Island residents have two opportunities to join in on the christening of Suncoast Waterkeeper’s new patrol boat and the launch of Eyes on the Suncoast, an improved citizen pollution and habitat monitoring program.
The 23-foot deck boat was purchased from Anna Maria Island Dolphin Tours. Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) is grateful to the owner, Island entrepreneur Ben Webb, who has been a huge supporter of the group. According to Waterkeeper’s Executive Director Abbey Tyrna, “Webb gave us a great price on the boat, allowed us time to obtain a grant before final payment and donated a $7,000 trailer. It’s because of stakeholders like Webb that we can make a real difference protecting the water quality and habitat of Sarasota Bay.”
“It’s a win/win for both of us,” Webb said. “If we don’t all pitch in to protect the natural areas that fuel our passion and that are the basis of our economy, everybody loses. It’s only common sense.”
The first event will be held on World Mangrove Day, Wednesday, July 26 at Floridays Woodfire Grill and Bar, 12332 Manatee Ave. W., from 4:30-6:30 p.m. During the event, attendees will be educated about the new program and learn about the importance and function of mangroves. Besides the christening, there will also be live music and a raffle. Light appetizers will be served and each attendee will receive a free drink. Once again, Waterkeeper would like to give a shout-out to Floridays and partner James Brearley, staunch supporters of SCWK’s work.
The second event is planned for Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron on City Island. This is a family-friendly event that will have a host of exciting, water-centered activities including making sun prints, dip netting, stand-up paddleboard lessons, casting lessons, training, live music and a raffle. Food will be available from food trucks including Big Blue Grilled Cheese Company and Chill Mobile. Partners for this event include the Sailing Squadron, Florida Sea Grant, Around the Bend Nature Tours, Big Blue and Chill Mobile.
Come and learn about the efforts of SCWK and local partners to protect the water quality and habitat on the Suncoast and learn how you can be part of the solution. While you’re there, you’ll participate in the christening, meet some of the area’s most committed citizens and share some of the unique activities our waters provide.
Anglers are no strangers to Dog Days, those hot, sultry times when even the lizards are lurking in the shadows. We know that a change of strategy will be in order soon. What we are strangers to is those days showing up a month earlier than usual. Add to that challenge the persistent west winds and anglers that chase tarpon on the beach and those that plumb the depths for grouper and pelagic species are affected. The name “dog days” comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun, was responsible for the hot weather.
On the west coast of Florida, dog days can run through September and into October, with the “spell” being broken by the shorter days more than the easing of daytime temperatures. While the temperatures create challenging conditions, savvy anglers know to change their strategies, tailoring their efforts to maximize their comfort and opportunities.
One of the prime times to fish during the dog days is before the sun crests the horizon.
The myriad dock and bridge lights that illuminate the waterways from Bradenton to Venice are prime targets. These areas hold schools of snook as well as trout, mangrove snapper, redfish, tarpon and a host of other species.
Docks with a water depth of more than 6 feet and good tidal flow generally hold more fish. When possible, fish the up-tide side of a structure. This allows more latitude when making a presentation, allowing flies, lures and bait to swing to the fish naturally and stay in the “strike zone” longer. Knowledge of the area you’re fishing will allow you to have docks to target on any tide.
The presence of hard bottom near a bridge or dock is another indicator of good fish habitat. Baitfish and crustaceans are attracted to a light source but also the presence of structures like ledges, oyster bars and seawalls. The type of light also can influence the action with underwater lights and lights sitting low to the water having a more distinctive shadow line, an area where feeding fish concentrate. In almost all cases, the biggest fish seem to hang on the dark edges of shadow lines.
When the rising sun lightens the horizon, anglers can move to the flats to target redfish, snook and trout. By concentrating your efforts around flats with good grass cover, with defined edges, potholes, sandbars and oyster bars you’ll find fish in much the same pattern as during other times of the year. The key is to find water temperatures that attract bait and are tolerable to gamefish. The addition of a strong incoming tide will increase your odds as well.
In the hottest months, most of the early morning tides are from 1-1.5 feet, so anglers will seldom see pushes or tails. Instead, concentrate on scattering bait, working birds and schools of mullet. One of the most productive strategies is to fish “seams,” demarcation lines that separate grass, sand and other structure.
While the pre-dawn or early morning is generally the best time during sweltering weather, there is one exception. The late afternoon outgoing tides that correspond to the full and new moons provide some fast action with a variety of species. Areas to concentrate on include the slues and channels that drain the inshore flats and the passes where the funneling effect concentrates game fish and their prey. Passes that have flanking seawalls and rock groins can be particularly productive. These areas attract and concentrate the baitfish on which the predators feed. Work lures and flies close to the structure. Fishing the “doldrums” can be productive no matter where you fish if you follow a few rules. First and foremost, you must find conditions that are acceptable to the species you seek. Snook and redfish are much more tolerant of high water temperatures than trout. In general, water temperatures must not be excessive, and you can count on early mornings and deeper water to moderate conditions. The exception to the rule will be those areas and times where the presence of food overrides the fish’s desire to locate comfortable conditions.
Fishing the dog days can be challenging, but master the rules and you’ll have a lot of good fishing opportunities minus the crowds.
Teaching fly casting has taught me some valuable lessons. Chief among them is the fact that it’s most often easier to learn from scratch using the fundamentals (physics) of the cast than it is to correct bad habits that have been developed over time. That became apparent to me when I gave lessons to someone who had been fly casting for a long time but who had ingrained bad techniques. When I showed them how to properly move the rod tip in a straight line to form a tight, wind penetrating loop, they understood the concept immediately. The eye opener for student and teacher was when they tried to repeat the proper casting stroke and their ingrained bad habit overpowered their new understanding.
This isn’t bad news for long-time casters who have been using improper techniques, but points out the necessity of practice to reteach the brain how to move the rod. The same applies to proficient casters who are learning to cast with their non-dominant hand. Try this and you’ll see what I mean instantly. If you’re a right-handed caster, putting the rod in the left hand is like handing it to your clone where the fundamentals of the cast are understood but the body doesn’t cooperate. The good news is that by learning the fundamentals of the cast and practicing them regularly anyone can become adept.
Besides learning and practicing the essentials of fly casting, it’s important to realize that there is no right or wrong casting style. Casting is governed by physics and there are some essentials that every fly caster must master, no matter what their individual skills or styles. This is the difference between the art (style) and science (physics) of the cast.
Fly fishing legend Joan Wulff demonstrates the casting stroke. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Fly casting is a lifelong learning experience that you can practice at 9 or 90. Different people learn at a different pace. Some people pick up casting quickly and then plateau. Others start slow, but when they finally get it, they’ve got it. It can be compared to learning how to ride a bike. To become a good caster you need to practice, but that practice will reward you with a lifetime of pleasure and provide the opportunity of the company of good friends.
Fly casting differs from spin or bait casting where the weight of the lure or bait loads the rod. The rod then transfers the stored energy of the rod to the lure or bait, which carries it to the target. In fly casting, the weight of the line loads the rod, and the line takes the leader and flies to the target.
The basic casting stroke consists of the rod being held in the hand at the base of the fingers with the thumb on top of the cork. The stroke is a combination of moves of the wrist, the forearm and the upper arm. In the ready position with the thumb on the cork, the wrist is straight and the butt of the rod is at a 45 degree angle to the forearm. The wrist travels from this straight position to a 45 degree down angle then returns to straight position. The forearm and the upper arm complete the motion.
There are five basic movements that make up what is referred to as the essentials:
There must be a pause at the end of each casting stroke, which varies in duration with the amount of line beyond the rod tip. This allows the line to straighten for the next cast.
Slack line should be kept to an absolute minimum. Slack line prevents the rod from loading and applying the proper power to the cast. The most common mistake that creates slack line happens when the rod is started too high, forming a belly in the line between the rod tip and the water. To prevent this, start your cast with the rod tip pointing at the water.
To form the most efficient, least air-resistant loops and to direct the energy of the cast toward the target, the rod tip must move in a straight line. Practice tracing a horizontal line like a roof eve.
The length of the casting stroke must vary with the amount of line past the rod tip. If you are making a short cast, there is only a small amount of line needed (which only weighs a small amount). As the length of line increases, the stroke must be increased to load the rod.
Power must be applied in the proper amount at the proper place in the stroke. In general, the power is applied slowly at first, gradually increasing to a peak at the end of the stroke. There should be a crisp stop at the end of the stroke, forcing the rod to come out of its bend. This is commonly referred to as the speed-up and stop.
In my experience, the only way to master fly casting is to practice consistently, preferably committing to two to five minutes every day to train or retrain your brain. Any additional time will, of course, be a bonus, but the importance of a regular practice schedule cannot be over-emphasized. There are lots of resources on the internet to help you perfect your cast and lessons with a caster trained by the Fly Fishers International can be invaluable. Some of the best videos to search for online are those by master casters and instructors Joan Wulff and Lefty Kreh. Locally, anglers can research rods and tackle at AMI Outfitters on Anna Maria Island. There are also some excellent casting videos on YouTube from Orvis and Rio. Learn and apply the fundamentals of fly casting consistently and you’ll be on your way to mastering the cast.
The world of photography has evolved with amazing speed over the last two decades and anglers have never had an easier time recording memories made on the water. Whether you’re capturing a reminder of a trip or your catch to share with friends and family, to post on social media or just to keep for your records, the new generation of phones and digital cameras allows you to record those experiences.
Photography has never been easier and anglers can enjoy this amazing technology no matter what their level of expertise. Most digital cameras and most smart phones also come with software (or apps) that let you enhance the image, crop the size and share the final product in a number of ways. You can send the images by email, as a text (straight from a phone) or download them, edit and print them out to frame and display. Modern phone cameras have all the features of digital cameras and the advantage of always being close at hand.
Even though taking a picture may be easy, there are a few basic rules that will help you capture a better image.
Before leaving the dock be sure you have fresh batteries, a charged phone, portable battery banks, memory cards and a cleaning cloth.
There is almost always a certain amount of chaos associated with catching a memorable fish, so get an idea in advance of where you’ll compose your image.
Check the background through the viewfinder carefully for distracting and cluttered backgrounds. Make sure you don’t have any unwanted objects, like a rod appearing to stick out of someone’s head.
Look to capture photographs that aren’t posed and remember that the sooner you get your picture the more vibrant the colors of a fish will be. First and foremost, fill the frame with the subject, eliminating anything that doesn’t add to the composition.
Since you’re filming on the water, check that the horizon is straight. Cameras and most smartphones have the option of putting a grid on the screen. If you have the option, and most phones do, shoot in portrait mode to blur the background and bring the subject into sharp focus.
Use a polarizing filter to cut glare and saturate colors.
For most shots with a digital camera set the aperture to at least F8 for better depth of field.
When trying to “catch” a jumping fish, make sure you stop the action with an ISO of at least 1,000th of a second. Many digital cameras and phones can now capture up to 10 frames a second so set the camera or phone to burst mode.
Many photographs taken on the water are exposed in bright light. When possible, avoid shadows on angler’s faces and use a fill flash if necessary.
Take a number of shots from different angles and get the angler excited and talking to you. One of the really great advantages of digital is that you can take lots of pictures and edit them on the go to make sure you have the shot you want.
Check out accessories like gimbals, selfie sticks and filters to take your work to the next level.
Start a YouTube channel and learn to upload and link movies. It’s easier than ever to shoot movie clips on digital phones like the iPhone and create videos in iMovie that can be uploaded to your YouTube channel.
If you are interested in recording underwater images and clips, check out the GoPro line of cameras and accessories.
A photo capturing the catch of a lifetime is made all the more special knowing the catch was released alive. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
If you have photo editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop, you can lighten the shadows in post-production. Post-production can be done on software that comes with new cellphones. This can eliminate the need for fill flash (if the contrast isn’t too great) and prevents a flash from creating unwanted reflections on fish. Since lighting is almost always challenging, shoot and then review important shots. If you have a more advanced camera, you can bracket important shots in difficult lighting situations. Expose at least three images: one slightly (one stop) underexposed, one slightly (one stop) overexposed and one at the setting suggested by the light meter.
There are a lot of excellent digital cameras on the market today. The new generation of smartphones can take amazing images and have clip-on accessories, including a polarizing lens.
If you’re really interested in photography, I would suggest getting a camera that meets your needs. Most come with a trial version of an image editing software like Adobe Elements. There are many cameras on the market from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, but for many anglers, their cellphones get the job done. Taking the time to capture the “moments of life” pays dividends that you can continue to relive by sharing them through your images.
For more information on the right camera for you, check with a professional at your local camera shop like Johnson Photo Imaging or shop online. Software demos (check out Lightroom or Photoshop) can be downloaded.
Fly fishermen, and fishermen in general, are always seeking ways to improve our enjoyment of the sport. And while that ultimately boils down to learning ways to be more successful at catching fish, it’s not really numbers that drive a fly fisher’s passion. It’s more personal than that. If it were a numbers game, we would still be fishing with live bait and waiting for the fish to find us. Our path to success is paved with mentors and milestones that redefine our personal passage through a life of fly fishing. It’s experiencing and seeking to understand the natural world and the fish that swim its waters that makes the fly fishing journey so special.
I first picked up a fly rod over 30 years ago and, over three decades, I’ve had many memorable days on the water. When I look back, some of my fondest memories are not about the fish that I’ve caught but the people I’ve met along the way, the personalities I’ve encountered and the friendships fostered. Fly fishers seem to possess a quality that attracts, entertains and enlightens us. No matter where you are in your evolution as a fly angler, I’m sure you’ve had or will have the same experiences. Over my years of fly fishing, one of the most charismatic individuals I’ve encountered in my time was a Belizean named Lincoln Westby.
I met Westby over a decade ago on a blustery morning in March outside my motel in Hopkins, Belize. Due to a strong cold front that had blown through the day before, my transfer to his Blue Horizon Lodge had been delayed. When he asked if I was going to the lodge, I wasn’t sure if he was a guide, the owner or merely a taxi driver. Little did I know that this unassuming man would, in less than a week, teach me more about permit fishing than I had assimilated in over 10 years of stalking this “holy grail” of fly fishing.
Westby’s spry demeanor and sparkling eyes belied his six-plus decades. A Belizean by birth, he has fished the coastal waters of Belize since he was a child. He began his fishing career as a commercial diver and fisherman before following his brothers, Joel and David, as guides to American spin anglers in the late 60s. Except for a stint in the British Army from 1961-67 and two years working on a research ship in Bermuda, he has dedicated his life to learning the ways of the permit, tarpon and bonefish. After working as a guide and manager at nearly every lodge on the Belize coast, Westby had the passion to have his own lodge. With the help and counsel of Will Bauer (now deceased), a longtime permit angler and former Belize lodge owner, the vision of the Blue Horizon Lodge was born.
Westby and his common-law wife, Pearline, leased a small mangrove island from the government with an option to buy. The island was inundated with water on high tides and it took over six months and more than 10,000 boatloads of sawdust and sand to create enough upland to build the first building. Finally, in 1997, Bauer brought the first group of anglers to the lodge and Westby’s dream became a reality.
On my trip to the Blue Horizon, I had the good fortune to pick a week when Bauer was at the lodge and I was able to fish with Westby on six consecutive days. Each day I was immersed in an endless world of multi-dimensional coral patch reefs that hosted school after school of permit. And while there were few spells of more than 45 minutes between fish, it was Westby’s intimate knowledge of the terrain and the permit that held me spellbound. I fished for four and a half days (and spent a day observing and photographing Bauer and Westby) and landed five permit. The number of opportunities was phenomenal and, while these permit were less pressured than in other locations I’ve fished, that didn’t change their basic nature.
Westby fished by the tides (high rising, high and high falling) and not by time. Keen eyes allowed him to slow motor along the edge of flats looking for fish. A mentor takes you to a new level, reminds you of the complexity of the natural world and feeds your desire to learn.
Lincoln Westby finessed this reluctant permit to eat his crab fly on his fifth presentation. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
On the day I photographed Westby, he left the boat to stalk a school of feeding permit and I was able to experience a master at work. He made a high looping cast that sent the fly softly to the water’s surface just two feet short of the feeding fish. Not once, but five times, the permit rushed the fly only to turn off at the last minute. Each time Westby waited (when I would have attempted to set the hook) until the fish had just turned off the fly and then gave a three-inch strip that teased the fish back to the fly. On the fifth look, the permit took the fly.
If I had to condense the knowledge I learned in my days with Westby into a short paragraph, it would be that permit are moody, and every presentation and opportunity will be influenced by many factors. The angler must judge the mood of the fish, know where the fly is at all times and take into account the tides, weather, availability of food, wind, structure of the bottom, sun angle and much more. Permit fishing is incredibly demanding, and therein lies its appeal. Quantum leaps in fly fishing can be built up with years of experience or, on occasion, by having the good fortune to learn from a mentor. It keeps it fresh and vital and makes us keen for our next adventure.
Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of fishing many of the finest trout streams in north Georgia, like the Soque and Chattahoochee as well Duke’s and Noontotla Creek. Always looking for a new adventure, I was intrigued when I overheard a conversation a couple of years ago at Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, Georgia. Two of the guides were talking about floating the Chattahoochee River for shoal bass.
Shoal bass are in the sunfish family and a member of the black bass family. It wasn’t until 1999 that they were reclassified as a unique species, having been considered a red eye bass. Shoal bass are similar in body shape to a largemouth bass but, unlike the largemouth, they have scales on the base portion of the second dorsal fin, their first and second dorsal fins are clearly connected, and their upper jaws do not extend past the eye. Shoal bass also lack the dark lateral band that largemouth have with vertical stripes which resemble tiger stripes.
Although historically found as far south as the Apalachicola and Chipola Rivers in Florida, habitat degradation has all but eliminated shoal bass from those rivers proper. Now their range is limited to tributaries including the Chattahoochee, Flint and Chestatee. They primarily eat crayfish but will also eat a variety of fish and insects. Shoal bass are primarily found among river shoals with fast-moving water and can also be found in the deeper pools containing limestone formations above and below the shoals.
In the spring of 2022, I booked McElroy to experience a Chattahoochee float and quickly fell in love with this type of fishing. This led to another trip with McElroy and Unicoi Outfitters owner Jimmy Harris, and I was hooked. On those two trips our primary target were shoal bass, although we also landed a nice striper.
On a recent trip to Georgia, I had the opportunity to float the Chestatee with McElroy and my friend Bob Seeger, a transplant from Longboat Key now living in Blue Ridge, Georgia. We started the day meeting McElroy at the takeout point where we moved all our gear into his truck and drove approximately 15 miles upstream to a launching point. After unloading the raft, McElroy guided the raft down a very steep embankment to the edge of the river. At this point in the river there was a very significant rapid that we decided to watch McElroy shoot and then joined him a short distance downstream. Unfortunately, there had been a fairly significant rain the night before our trip and the river was high and muddy. We had been warned in advance that these conditions all but shut down shoal bass from feeding. Despite the condition of the water, over the course of the next six hours we enjoyed a beautiful float past riverbanks festooned with flame azaleas, dogwoods and mountain laurel under a deep blue sky with puffy, white clouds floating overhead. And despite the odds, Seeger managed to land his first-ever shoal bass. This a trip I highly recommend. To experience it for yourself, contact Unicoi Outfitters at 1-706-878-3083 or visit their website.
Planning any fishing trip can be a challenge given the peculiarities of weather and the idiosyncrasies of fish. Add a few thousand miles, a different language and an exotic species or two, and some serious planning is advisable.
Chances are you’ve been looking forward to this trip for a long time and, finally, you’ll have the opportunity to do nothing but eat, fish, sleep and repeat for a week or more. More than likely, it’s taken a tremendous amount of time and money to get this opportunity, so it makes good sense to develop a plan to assure that you have the best possible chance of success.
Deciding where to go and when are the first decisions you’ll make. While it’s not impossible to book your own trip, knowing the best time, tides and lodging can be daunting. In addition, juggling the details of plane reservations, transfers, accommodations and guides can increase the challenge of putting together a self-guided trip.
A knowledgeable outfitter or travel host can provide you with the experience and insider information that will allow you to immerse yourself in the experience instead of the details. Even when using an outfitter, you’ll need to do some research to assure you’ve matched your angling needs and expectations to your chosen destination. There are a lot of resources online, including some great groups on Facebook, but you’ll need to vet those sources.
When choosing an outfitter or destination host, be aware that knowing what you want from your trip and asking the right questions are important to fulfilling your expectations. For example, some of the best fishing is available at sites that have the least amenities. If you require a certain level of service or are traveling with non-fishers, you’ll want to research locations that offer specific conveniences as well as good fishing. While you won’t want to plan your trip based on secondhand information, you’ll find it can be helpful to talk to others who have made the trip you’re planning. Ask the outfitter or host for a number of references and question them carefully. Make sure they have been to the location recently and at the time of the year you plan to visit.
In foreign countries (the Bahamas is a foreign country), you’ll be hard-pressed to replace items you forgot to pack, particularly fishing tackle. This is one case when it’s probably better to pack more than you think you’ll need, within reason. Making a packing list and checking it before your departure will pay dividends. Most destinations provide lists that you can use to make sure you don’t forget anything important. While their recommendations are a good place to start, customizing your own travel list can help ensure that you have what you need while streamlining the amount of baggage you take.
A knowledgeable guide can take you to fish. It’s your responsibility to put a fly where the fish can see it. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Many tropical fishing destinations are very near the equator, so anglers need to pay special attention to the sun. Long-sleeved pants and shirts (with sun protection) are advisable along with a high SPF waterproof sunscreen. Polarized glasses with glare guards and a fishing hat with a dark (under) brim are mandatory and a second pair of each should accompany you. For many of my fishing adventures, I’ve used a full-face mask and gloves for sun protection. Recently, I started wearing a fishing hoodie with thumb holes that protect my face, hands and wrists. I find hoodies much more comfortable and invested in several that have bamboo fibers woven in. Invest in a good pair of flats wading boots and a sling or fanny pack with a water bottle holder and you’ll be good to go.
You can be a consummate planner and still fail to properly plan if you aren’t comfortable with your cast. Pay special attention to casting into the wind and being able to place an accurate 40-foot cast. Practicing these skills well in advance on grass will greatly increase the pleasure of your adventure.
The success or failure of any fishing adventure will vary due to conditions beyond your control, but being mindful of the things you do have control over can make or break your trip. Be prepared, practice casting and do your homework up front, ask good questions of knowledgeable sources, and be flexible. The time and effort you expend in planning the trip will pay in dividends of tight lines and lasting memories.
Every angler’s fishing rod, be it a spinning rod, a fly rod or a casting rod, is constructed in a similar way and has the same basic parts. Have you ever wondered why one rod is more expensive than another? Knowing the basic components of a rod will help you understand their construction, action and why one rod costs what it does. This is valuable information in determining which rod is best for you.
A rod’s blank is constructed from a product known as prepreg. This fibrous material is impregnated with resin and wrapped around a mandrel, which is removed after the blank is formed, giving the rod its basic round shape. This blank holds the guides, ferrules, handle, reel seat and fighting butt.
Prepreg has fibers that have a unidirectional (straight) orientation. The fibers can be made of different materials including fiberglass, graphite, boron or Kevlar. Some rods are made (laid up) from a prepreg that has additional fibers that run around or at an angle to the unidirectional fibers. This gives the rod additional strength and influences flex, stiffness – and price.
A rod’s scrim refers to a lightweight material that forms an additional lining under the primary fibers and helps in working the material when it is wrapped around the mandrel. Scrim can be straight or woven and adds what is known as “hoop strength” to the finished rod.
The parts of a rod consist of a blank with a butt section, a fixed hood, a reel seat, a sliding hood, a locking ring, handle, guides, ferrules and a tip. The butt section is the cork part of the rod behind the reel seat that fits into a fighting harness or into the stomach when playing a fish. On a spinning and casting rod, it’s where the non-dominant hand holds the rod. The reel seat is where the reel foot is placed either on or near the blank, while the hoods secure the reel to the rod. The fixed hood is the metal receiver where one end of the reel foot is placed. The sliding hood is the rear receiver that holds the other end of the reel foot. The locking ring is a nut that puts pressure on the sliding hood and holds the reel securely in place. The cork handle is where the dominant hand is placed. Guides hold the line along the length of the blank. The ferrules connect the sections of a rod. The tip, as the name implies, is the section at the top of the rod.
You may also have heard the term “taper.” A rod’s taper refers to the diameter of a rod from the butt to the tip. The taper affects the rod’s action. Most rods have either a fast action (stiff) or a slow action (flexible).
When you’re shopping for a new outfit, knowing the parts and construction of a rod will help you make an informed decision. The most important part of the rod and the one that most affects its price, and your buying decision, is the blank. The materials and the method of construction of the blank determine its price. The least expensive rods are made from fiberglass while the expensive ones are constructed with graphite, boron and Kevlar. While fiberglass may be good for a beginner, the more expensive rods are a better choice for the seasoned angler. Armed with this information you’ll have the knowledge you need to determine how much you spend on a rod. This decision can positively affect your angling efficiency and enjoyment.
Red tide; two words that nobody wants to hear but everyone needs to understand. The term is just the common expression of the much deeper problem best described as harmful algae blooms (HABs). Someone who owns a resort hotel, has a restaurant on or near the beach or runs a business that takes people fishing or sightseeing obviously depends on clean, healthy water for their livelihood. It’s easy for the average person to see that these businesses will be negatively affected by HABs or even the mere mention of them. What’s less obvious is that poor water quality and habitat loss (seagrasses, mangroves) affects everyone, from fishing guides to developers, realtors, builders and all the allied trades and suppliers they all depend on.
We seem to only focus on the things that directly impact us in the present, finding it easier to “kick the can down the road.” Maybe we should consider how we’ll feel when our children and grandchildren look us in the eye and ask, “What did you do to make sure I had some of the same opportunities that you did?”
Second Place
Serious Column (Sally Latham Memorial award)
2024
Things took a devastating turn five years ago with a massive and long-lived harmful algae bloom (red tide) that devastated coastal waters from Naples to St. Petersburg, rendering Sarasota Bay a virtual wasteland. Since that event, Sarasota Bay has lost more grass than had regrown in the prior 40 years.
On top of that, a release of over 200 million gallons of polluted process water from the legacy phosphate facility at Piney Point in late March 2021 led to the worst algae bloom in Upper Tampa Bay since the 1970s, killing thousands of tons of sea life.
Resident anglers have seen firsthand the decrease in water quality and the resulting loss
of habitat, seagrass and its negative effect on local fisheries. Unfortunately, those who recently relocated here have no understanding of what has been lost and what that means for future anglers. The concept of “shifting baseline” describes a gradual change in the accepted norms for the condition of the natural environment due to a lack of past information or lack of experience of past conditions.
It’s critically important that we vet the politicians who represent us and are charged with enacting rules and regulations to protect our natural resources. A good source of that information is the League of Conservation Voters (lcv.org). The LCV is non-partisan and tracks the voting records of members of the Senate and Congress on environmental issues in its National Environmental Scorecard. This is a clear indication of how those tasked with representing our interests vote. It’s critical that we take decisive action now.
Research candidates before you cast your vote and consider joining and working with advocates like Suncoast Waterkeeper and their Eyes On The Suncoast Program, Vote Water and Sarasota Bay Watch. If we don’t do it, who will?
I first met Damon Moore at a Sister Keys Cleanup in 2010 when we were introduced by Ann Hodgson of Audubon. Moore worked in environmental consulting for seven years at Stantec before joining Manatee County. In his words, “I loved challenging habitat restoration projects where good problem-solving and project design skills would result in high-quality, cost-effective projects. I was blessed to have the opportunity to work on Manatee County projects like Perico Preserve, Ungarelli Preserve, the Robinson Preserve expansion and Tom Bennett Park as a consultant charged with designing the restoration plans for those properties. I found my niche.”
Moore has high praise for his mentor Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County’s director of natural resources. “As a consultant, I saw something in him that I was drawn to; Charlie always found a way to move high quality environmental enhancement projects forward, regardless of the challenges. He’s creative and pragmatic and I knew he had big plans for the next 10 years. I wanted to play a direct role managing the implementation of those projects. I joined Charlie’s department and spent the next decade working on some of the most impactful projects in the region.”
When the Robinson Preserve expansion was functionally complete, Moore wanted to branch out and sharpen his skillset by taking on a more diverse geographic range of projects. He found that at Environmental Science Associates, but during a brief tenure there, he said, “I realized the area I call home needed more environmental benefit projects.” That was challenging to facilitate as a consultant, so Moore decided to form a non-profit he would call Oyster River Ecology (ORE) to bring more projects to the Suncoast.
The name ORE is an homage to the Manatee River, historically known as the “Oyster River.” Moore’s understanding of the concept of shifting baselines is a loss of perception of change that occurs when each generation redefines what is “natural.” Moore explains, “To the detriment of residents today and all generations to follow, the prolific oyster beds of the Oyster River were harvested to depletion, but the good news is that restoration projects combined with wise management practices can bring some of that abundance back.” Ultimately, that is Moore’s passion, and his extensive knowledge of restoration practices and proven performance combine to provide hope to all who value the amazing flora and fauna of the Suncoast. ORE recently received its 501(c)(3) designation from the state. Moore is now finalizing the organization’s website and reaching out to the many philanthropic organizations with which the Suncoast is blessed.
Moore currently serves as president of the Manatee Fish and Game Association, where, among many other environmental initiatives, he helped shepherd the passage of the Manatee County land and water referendum, which passed with a 71% vote. The referendum will result in $50 million worth of funding for conservation projects in the county. I and many other anglers and citizens who have seen first-hand the decline of water quality, habitat, and bird and fish populations are excited at the prospect of ORE. Its focus on restoration projects is essential to a region whose baselines are a foundation of the local economy and are critically endangered.
I heard my first whippoorwill almost three weeks ago. It’s one of my favorite times of the year and one of the most productive for anglers who fish with flies, artificial lures or live bait. I like to think of this time of the year as spring training. March and early April can be challenging months, but they can also be very productive. It’s a time when the changing seasons can bring clear skies and balmy breezes one day and high winds and late-season cold fronts the next. It’s a good time to keep an eye on the weather and water temperature.
Water temperatures that hover in the 70s bring fish out of their winter haunts. It doesn’t matter if it’s winter one day and spring the next. Even if the weather is unpredictable, anglers know to start watching for the signs of spring. They’ll keep an eye on the Gulf, looking for flocks of diving sea birds as they feast on schools of baitfish that gather off the beaches in their seasonal migration. They know from experience that schools of little tunny, Spanish mackerel, cobia and kingfish will be attracted by and feed around the schools of bait.
In the bay, trout, redfish and snook will be roaming the flats in search of pilchards, shrimp and glass minnows. Spring is the time when local anglers have a host of piscatorial choices and some of the best conditions, mostly. The weather, while always unpredictable during the changing seasons, seems to be warmer every year. Of course, it’s always possible that a late-season cold front can rile Gulf and bay waters. It’s a swing time and the kind of weather that can play with the emotions of the die-hard angler. But hope springs eternal and we know from experience that it won’t be long before spring is here. That’s why it’s time to be prepared, flies tied and tackle ready for that day when it’s no longer a question of when it will happen, but what species we’ll fish for!
I like this time of year even if it can be exasperating. One day the flats and Gulf can be barren and the next the action is red hot. When fishing the Gulf, having a rig on board that can handle a big cobia or kingfish makes good sense and having wire at hand in case toothy kingfish and Spanish mackerel make an appearance can make or break a day.
If you’re fishing the Gulf and bait isn’t showing on the surface, try fishing areas where they congregate, like artificial reefs, rocks, and ledges. I like to work a top water plug or fly-over structure and have often found fish where there was no outward sign of their presence.
In the bay, work the areas of the flats on the outside seams of grass flats and the edges and ends of sandy potholes. Pay particular attention to deep grass that’s often present at the end of a pothole and work your casts into the area by casting short and then progressing right over the hole. Top water plugs and flies are particularly effective when waters warm and can be an invaluable aid in finding action.
Whatever your fishing style or whether you like fishing the Gulf or bays, take advantage of this swing time and you might just be rewarded with the promise of spring.
When winter weather comes to southwest Florida, as it finally did recently, anglers need to alter their strategy to meet the changing conditions. Cold fronts traditionally drop water temperatures, cloud local waters and produce shifting cold winds. What we experienced in the last two weeks was an extreme version of the variable conditions Florida natives are used to. Before this major front, we had an unusually long spell of “stable” weather which itself can produce lackluster fishing. Fortunately, strong fronts yield to periods of calm and often balmy weather just as we’re experiencing now.
While weather conditions have always varied significantly, this first strong front was last this season. The sudden drop in temperatures put fish off for a few days but reports from Capt. Justin Moore and Capt. Rick Grassett indicated a return to consistent action as fish came back to feed over warming grass flats. Knowing the way different species respond to the chilling waters gives anglers an advantage. While winter fishing can be challenging, excellent action is available and persistence really pays dividends when the thermometer begins to plunge.
Stephen Smith, from Rumson, New Jersey, caught this bluefish in Sarasota Bay prior to an approaching cold front. – Submitted | Capt. Rick Grassett
The most sought-after species, snook, redfish and trout, respond differently to the cold but will all concentrate in areas where the surrounding waters are more temperate. Snook are most sensitive to the changing water temperature and migrate to rivers, canals and basins with deep water. There are several strategies to employ when fishing for all species, especially snook. Look for areas with dark bottom that absorb the heat of the sun warming surrounding waters, creating a magnet for the sensitive linesiders. Shallow bays and bayous that heat up quickly on sunny days and flush warm water on late afternoon outgoing tides can be particularly productive. Even the seawalls that line residential areas can warm the water and attract fish on cold days. It doesn’t take much of a temperature difference to concentrate them.
When fishing a particular flat, canal or basin, pay attention to areas that receive the most sun during the day. Explore water that is protected from cold north winds. The wind stirs the water, keeping it from absorbing the sun’s rays and warmth. Sun exposure, depth, protection from the wind and the color of the bottom all figure into the equation. Find these conditions and you’ll be in an area that is more desirable to fish.
When the weather prevents the sun from warming the water, look for deep areas that harbor fish. Channels, holes under big boats in canals and boat basins are all potential refuges for fish during cold weather. These areas warm more slowly, but they also cool more slowly.
All local species are affected by the cold water to some degree but many, like trout and redfish, have a higher tolerance. One strategy to employ, even under temperate conditions, is to slow your retrieve and keep close to the bottom. Top water can still be effective in the winter for species like bluefish, but anglers should slow their retrieve with plugs and poppers.
Some species actually thrive in cold water. A good example is sheepshead and black drum. Often shunned by anglers, both are hard fighting, challenging to hook and excellent to eat. Look for them around structure, particularly bridge and dock pilings where they feed on small crabs, shrimp and barnacles. Winter weather and cooler temperatures can also stimulate species like pompano, bluefish and mangrove snapper.
Use your senses, experiment, be persistent and you can experience some very good fishing during our cooler winter months.
The Redfly, a premier Tampa Bay area tournament targeting redfish on fly tackle, is just around the corner and this is a good time to get ready for the 17th running of this popular event.
The tournament is the brainchild of Capt. Jon Bull, of St. Petersburg and provides a good opportunity for fishing enthusiasts to test their skills against some of the Tampa Bay area’s best anglers and have a shot at a bevy of great prizes.
What originally started as a small tournament based out of Cockroach Bay in 2008 has turned into the largest, longest-running fly-fishing tournament for redfish in the country. The 16th Annual Redfly was a huge success. The tournament topped past events with a record 84 anglers. Fishing was tough, and while that tournament proved hard for anglers, the event raised $2,260 for Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.
This year’s event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 14. The tournament starts with a mandatory check-in and captain’s meeting at 5:30 a.m. at the Salty Shamrock Irish Pub, 6816 U.S. Hwy. 41 in Apollo Beach. Each team or solo angler is required to bring their measuring device to the meeting to be approved by tournament officials.
The catch-photo-release tournament is open to two-person teams and solo anglers. Each angler or team must provide at least one digital camera with a clear memory card to participate. Pictures taken with a cellphone also are allowed. Anglers can use fly fishing gear, but no bait scents, live, dead, cut or frozen bait, chumming or tipping is allowed. Participants also cannot fish in another boat’s chum line or in the area where another boat is chumming.
Anglers can wade or fish from a boat, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, pier, dock, bridge or shoreline as long as they remain in the tournament boundaries and no more than 50 yards from their partner or vessel. Boundaries for the tournament stretch from Fred Howard Park in the north to Gasparilla Pass in the south. Participating anglers can launch from any public ramp and must fish between the boundaries. All anglers must have a valid Florida saltwater fishing license and adhere to all state fishing regulations. Anyone fishing from a boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety gear on board during the tournament.
Anglers are asked to show courtesy to other tournament and recreational anglers while fishing. All participants will be operating on the honor system during the tournament regarding use of fly-fishing gear and adhering to tournament rules. If you cheat in a fishing tournament, you are just pathetic and sad.
Fishing begins at 7 a.m. with weigh-in taking place from 3-4 p.m. back at the Salty Shamrock. Any angler who is late to the weigh-in will be disqualified. Pictures of the day’s catch, including an approved measuring device, whole fish and tournament marker, will be presented to the judges during the weigh-in.
The angler with the largest two redfish total to the nearest quarter inch will win a 100% payback with the first runner-up earning a 60% payback, second runner-up earns a 30% payback and 10% goes to the third runner-up. The cost to participate is $50 per two-person team or $25 for solo anglers. Registration fees will be collected at the captain’s meeting and must be made in cash.
After the weigh-in there will be a prize raffle at the Salty Shamrock. Tickets for the raffle are $5 each or five for $20 and can be purchased onsite with cash or by using Zelle, CashApp at $shadowcastflyfishing, or Venmo at @shadowcastflyfishing.
All the proceeds from the event benefit Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. For more information, contact Capt. Jon Bull at 863-860-7250 or jbull1229@gmail.com.
Believe it or not, winter is here. While air temperatures would have us think otherwise, bay and Gulf waters have chilled, if only a little, putting fish into an atypical winter-time pattern. Anglers considering their options on a sunny day should think about getting out of the boat and taking a walk. Although the water isn’t as cold as normal this time of year, the shorter days can produce some great results for anglers willing to “step outside the boat.”
Andy Grosso of Sarasota caught his first redfish on fly while wading Sarasota Bay last December. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Like any time of the year, wading provides some distinct advantages over fishing from a boat. Wading puts you in the fish’s realm, giving you the advantage of a low profile and a silent approach. This can be particularly important during the winter months when the water can be gin clear, making gamefish extremely wary.
The key to comfortable winter wading is being prepared. A good pair of waders, wading boots, long pants and comfortable socks will do the trick on the coldest day. On warm days, wet wading is still an option. Add a pair of polarized glasses, a hat with a dark un- der-brim, a wade vest or pack and you’re in business. You won’t need heavy tackle unless you’re fishing docks or other structures. Under most conditions, an 8-pound test tackle will be sufficient. You can go even lighter if conditions permit. Fly anglers generally opt for 7- or 8-weight outfits unless wind or other conditions warrant otherwise. Thirty-pound bite tippets should be constructed of fluorocarbon and be approximately 18 inches long.
If the visibility isn’t great, or you’re fishing early or late, target the edges where grass and sand meet. These sandy areas (the seams) and potholes are perfect ambush spots for the predators you’re targeting. Start with presentations about 2 feet outside the area working towards, in and past your target. Make sure you include any deep grass at the ends of the potholes. These areas can be very productive and always warrant a couple of extra casts.
After working the edges of the holes and the seams, begin casting into the sandy areas. Work the nearside of the hole and cast progressively longer until you reach the other side. When fly fishing, try a clear sink tip line with a relatively (8- to 10-foot) short leader over deep grass.
During the winters, anglers who wade fish find big trout on the flats on cold, low-tide mornings. The fish will come into some extremely shallow water to feed, so start shallow and work your way towards the deeper edges, always staying vigilant for surface action, wakes or feeding birds.
If fish are particularly spooky or hard to see, try standing still and waiting for them to come to you. Try this approach if fish see you just before you see them. An- chor well away from the area you intend to fish, get out of the boat and stake out a pothole or sandy area where you have visibility. By staying a long cast away, you can easily see the fish when they enter a hole or pass across a patch of sand. Position yourself off to the side in the grass where you’re less visible, keep a low profile and be still. Just waiting them out gives you a big advantage when targeting reds, trout, snook and other game fish as they wander the flat. When you make a presentation, don’t make any quick moves and make your casts low and slow. It takes patience but can be productive when all else fails. When you “get in” you’ll discover some excellent angling opportunities and, as a bonus, get some exercise.
Today’s anglers are barraged by the constantly changing “state-of-the-art” innovations in the angling world. Side scan fish finders, spot lock trolling motors and even lures with cameras might improve your odds at catching fish, but there’s no substitute for learning and applying what might be called the basics, the foundations that successful angling is built on.
Fishing means different things to different people. To some, it’s the simple pleasure of being on the water where catching is optional. To others, it’s serious business and the outcome can make or break a day on the water. For others, it’s the search for a meal or just an opportunity to share time with friends or family.
Whatever fishing means to you, it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, I’m convinced that the less complicated, the better your chance of success. That might not be apparent when browsing the tackle department at your nearest sporting goods store or tackle shop.
There is a plethora of gear lining the shelves meant to dazzle and “lure” anglers. Even the basics like line and hooks come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, each promising the angler an advantage over the fish. In truth, experience has taught me that there’s no special magic to finding the right gear for angling success. Instead, concentrating on a few basic time-tested techniques will improve the luck of even the greenest angler.
Most important is the essential outfit – rod, reel and line. Pick the best quality tackle you can afford, but not the most expensive available. I’m talking about gear that is solidly made and able to survive the rigors of saltwater. Whether you’re using spinning tackle, fly tackle or bait casting gear, get an outfit that’s balanced and appropriate for the kind of fishing you’ll be doing. A balanced outfit means that the weight is evenly distributed when held just forward of the reel on the cork of the rod. This isn’t an exact science, but you’ll be able to feel if one component is oversized.
An appropriate outfit is one that is up to the task of catching the fish you’re targeting, but no heavier than necessary. An 8- to 10-pound rig is perfect for snook, trout, redfish and other inshore species while a 20- to 40-pound outfit works best for anglers hunting kingfish and cobia along the beach or bottom fishing for grouper, snapper or amberjack over offshore ledges and wrecks. The line should also match the outfit you’re using and fill the spool of the reel. The most common problem I see is reels with too little line. This severely hampers the angler’s casting accuracy and distance.
When it comes to deciding whether to use live bait or artificial lures, I think artificial lures are a better choice, especially for beginning anglers. First and foremost, lures are less of a hassle. Live bait takes time to acquire, must be kept healthy and usually stays close to where it’s cast. Artificial lures by contrast don’t have to be changed often and aren’t affected by pests like pinfish. At worst it only involves changing the body of a jig occasionally. Using lures will allow you to cover more water, testing various water depths and retrieval speeds.
My personal favorite is a jig and, while I now use mostly weighted jigs with plastic bodies, the original with bucktail skirts are still a great choice. My second choice would be a top water plug. These lures require a bit of practice to master “walking the dog” but allow the angler to cover a lot of water and attract fish with their sound and surface disturbance.
Consult your local tackle shop when choosing an outfit. They know the area, have a wealth of experience and can be trusted to get you off to a good start. While big box stores might seem a good place to shop, you’re not as likely to get the professional advice of a local shop. Do some homework before shopping so you can pick the best rig for the fishing you intend to do. There is no doubt that innovations appear that you want to be aware of, but your overall experience will be enhanced if you master the basics first.
