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Protecting and preserving the Gulf

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes. – Marcel Proust

As I read Jack Davis’ new novel, “Gulf, The Making of An American Sea” this quote by the seminal French novelist Marcel Proust repeatedly came to mind. Having lived on Florida’s Gulf coast for close to 40 years and been privileged to explore its rivers, bays and enigmatic estuaries, I have been captivated with its beauty and the fish that swim its waters. Over the years I’ve also explored the coastal waters of the Bahamas, Belize, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama and other more far-flung destinations. The opportunity to expand my vision of the coastal resources we are blessed with and having the luxury of time to see them in decline has spurred an interest in working to protect this watery world. Still, being immersed in this wonderland, my sensibilities have been unknowingly dulled by the familiarity of place. Reading “Gulf” shined a brighter light on what we have, what we’ve lost and the importance of protecting and enhancing our beguiling home.

Reel Time Gulf book
The book highlights the importance of protecting and enhancing the Gulf of Mexico. – Submitted | Sun

Davis’s novel begins 150,000,000 years ago when the geological forces of an evolving Earth began shaping the Gulf we know today. In part one, he introduces us to the Calusa in Florida and the Karankawa, who inhabited present-day Texas, original natives of “one of the largest estuarine regions in the world, encompassing more than two hundred estuaries and occupying nearly eight million acres.” The book then traces the impact of the early Spanish explorers, who led the way for the French and British. The descriptions of the vast schools of fish and flocks of birds that would “blacken the sky” hint at the incredible diversity and density of marine life and wildlife that once inhabited the Gulf and its estuaries.

In a chapter entitled “The Wild Fish That Tamed the Coast” Davis recounts how the tarpon, not warm weather and white sand beaches, brought the first tourists to Florida. The records are unclear about who took the first tarpon with a rod and reel. Some say it was New York Architect William Halsey Wood fishing in Pine Island Sound in 1885. Others claim it was Anthony Weston Dimock with a fish he caught at the mouth of the Homosassa River. That first tarpon aside, the great silver fish was the impetus that introduced wealthy adventurers, artists and, indirectly, a wave of tourists to the Gulf coast.

In subsequent chapters, the influx of humans into the Gulf region begins a period of intense exploitation in the 1800s that continues to this day. Davis recounts records of armed passengers – “tourists” – on the Ocklawaha River that shot birds and wildlife indiscriminately for sport. At the same time, the plume trade was responsible for the killing of huge numbers of birds Gulf-wide.  In 1902, one trade house reported an inventory of 50,000 ounces of feathers. At about that time ornithologist Frank Chapman spent two afternoons walking Manhattan’s retail district counting 542 feathered hats representing 174 species of birds.

During this same period, the harvesting of eggs from seabird nests exacerbated the decline of the once vast flocks of birds. Davis paints a picture with words that makes it hard to overstate the effects of this dark period. Fortunately, this gloomy picture is brightened by the light ignited by the resulting outcry from conservationists and birders. As a result, bird sanctuaries were set aside by an executive order from President Theodore Roosevelt for the protection of birds, and chapters of the National Audubon Society were born, including the Florida Chapter in 1900. During that period Roosevelt fostered the creation of 51 bird reservations, including Passage Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay.

As the history of the Gulf unfolded, the exploitation moved from birds to oil and then chemicals that devastated the coastal estuaries of Louisiana and Mississippi. Davis then recounts the effects of pulp mills, oil spills, and hurricanes before the rush of development that resulted in massive dredge and fill operations. This rush to the Gulf coastal areas scoured seagrasses from bay bottoms and leveled thousands of acres of marshes and mangroves creating islands and communities – Marco Island, Cape Coral, Bird Key and Terra Verde – where natural abundance once dominated.

While much of the book centers on the degradation of the Gulf and its bays, estuaries and barrier islands, it also points out its resilience and serves as a cautionary tale of the importance of protecting, preserving and enhancing it today. As a result of reading this book, I’m reminded that most of us who call the Gulf home today and consider it paradise have no idea of the paradise that’s been lost. “Gulf, The Making of an American Sea” is helping me to see my home with new eyes.

The evolution of Homosassa tarpon fishing

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

It was in the mid to late 70s when the floodgates opened up in the area. It was a time when the world’s greatest fly anglers and guides made an annual May migration to Homosassa. Billy Pate, Joe Robinson, Al Pflueger, Captain Eddie Whiteman, Carl Navarre, John Emory, Captain Bill Curtis, Captain Dale Perez, Captain Steve Huff, Captain Jim Brewer, Tom Evans, Captain Cecil Keith Jr., baseball legend Ted Williams, Captain Nat Ragland and Captain Lee Baker were regulars. The fishing was so incredible that world records never made it to the IGFA record books because they were broken day after day.

Billy Pate, the most visible angler fishing Homosassa, was one of the first Keys anglers on the scene. Pate had been guided by Captains Hank Brown and Lee Baker in the late 70s before Captain Nate Ragland became his guide. Ragland remembers the parties Pate would throw at the Riverside Inn, the gathering place for the Keys guides and their clients. Pate’s seven-day stints in Homosassa would include six days of fishing and one day off.

reel time Norman Duncan
One of the many large tarpon caught on fly off Homosassa in the late 70s and early 80s. – Submitted | Sun

Ragland fished Pate over the course of 13 years. Ragland remembers some incredible days when there were few anglers and thousands of tarpon. One of Ragland’s clearest memories is of the day Pate fished with a broken foot from a water skiing accident. They hadn’t been seeing much until they happened on a laid up tarpon on a rock pile – laid up tarpon were rare.

Pate made three unusually bad casts, lining the fish three times. The tarpon ate the fly on the third cast even though it had been lined. When Ragland noticed the fly line going under the boat, Pate jumped down from the platform just as the boat pitched bringing him down on the bad foot and breaking two more bones as well as the handle off the reel. Not to be defeated, Pate had his wife Patti remove the handle from another reel and replaced it. To make matters worse, as Ragland was chasing the fish, his push pole-caught in the bottom, and he lost it. After turning the boat around with the electric motors, they chased the fish down and caught it.

Another day that really stands out in my memory is the day Pate hooked six fish out of a seven fish string, says Ragland. Ragland and Pate’s favorite flies included the Dirty Nellie, Purple Pimpernel, Black Death and the Little Brown.

Anglers fishing Homosassa used tackle and techniques developed in the Florida Keys. The rod of choice was the Scientific Anglers Great Equalizer. The most popular reels were the #3 Fin-Nor Wedding Cake, the Sea Master anti-reverse and the Emory reel, developed by Miami’s John Emory.

Flies were big by today’s standards, tied Keys’ style, based on the Homer Rhode Divided Wing Shrimp Fly, on Eagle Claw 4/0 to 6/0 254 SS hooks. Anglers experimented with color combinations tied with three splayed grisly hackles on each side, palmered hackles, and an orange fluorescent head. The big rods required a large line. The most popular was a yellow Scientific Angler #13 with a green sink tip. Bite tippets were generally 100 to 125-pound test. In 1976, Evans backed John Emory to design and build his fly reel.

“I guarantee you that the Emory reel caught more large tarpon than any ever built,” says Evans. “I know because we caught them.”

It took them two plus years to sell 220 reels.

“If I had known that the worse the fishing gets the more reels you could sell, I would have gone in the business,” he relates with a laugh.

This was a time when boats were evolving and the first anglers poled off of the cowling of their motors or backward from the bow. Eventually, boats with poling platforms and trolling motors appeared on the scene. Sidewinders, Makos, and Challengers gave way to Hewes Bonefishers, Dolphin Super Skiff, Shipokes, Mavericks and Silver Kings.

Local Homosassa guides began fishing tarpon from modern flats boats. Captain Mike Locklear learned the trade from Freddy Archibald, builder of the Shipoke and of St. Petersburg. He remembers Archibald loaning him a Shakespeare Wonder Rod and practicing fly casting a few days before he got his first opportunity.

“I had five tarpon eat the fly before I ever jumped one,” says Locklear. “He would just laugh and let me try again. I was trying to set the hook like I had a bass on.”

Other local guides including John Bazo, Earl Waters, Steve Kilpatrick, Jimmy Long and Billy Hampton also began leading anglers to tarpon in the 80s and 90s.

Probably no other angler has experienced more of the evolution of Homosassa tarpon fishing than Tom Evans. From 1977 to 1980, Evans and Captain Steve Huff fished three weeks every May, a time that produced six world records on four different line classes.

“I’ll never see fishing like that again in my life,” says Evans. “Homosassa gave me the best fishing I’ve ever experienced, and recently, the worst fishing I’ve ever seen.”

The numbers Evans reports reveal the weight of his words. “In the 70s we landed 200 tarpon a season, in the 80s 100 fish, during the 90s the number dropped to 50 and within the last 10 years numbers have fallen to five to seven fish.”

Evans calculates that 10 percent of the tarpon he caught were 150 pounds or larger. By his calculations, he has landed 300 plus fish over 150 pounds.

Evans doesn’t know what’s wrong with the fishery now. “There’s no pressure,” he relates. Evans still puts in time on the flats every year with Captain Al Dopirak. “There are no Jet-Skis, few boats, no bait and very few fish.”

The tarpon still come to the Homosassa area during May and June, but their numbers are down exponentially from the 70s. Theories abound as to why they don’t return in the great numbers seen then. Some think the pressure of the ever-increasing boat traffic kept the tarpon from the shallow inshore waters. Others think the increase in shrimp boats off the coast was responsible for a reduction in the available forage food.

Probably the most credible explanation is that the outflows from the local springs are down by as much as 75 percent. Captain Dale Perez remembers when every fish they landed in the 70s spit up pieces of crabs. That doesn’t happen now according to Evans. Perhaps the mixing action of fresh and saltwater that created the perfect habitat for crabs is the problem.

One thing is for sure, we will never know why the fish stopped showing up in great numbers. Seasoned anglers know that there are cycles happening that are far beyond our comprehension. Next year, the large schools of the tarpon could return. If fly fishing has its Camelot, the waters around Homosassa were unquestionably a place where a magical time of almost mythological action is forever etched into angling’s collective consciousness.

Reel Time: The apex of angling

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Tarpon could be said to be angling’s Holy Grail. I’ve heard top Keys guides refer to catching a tarpon on fly as the apex of angling. While most Floridians think that it was crystalline blue water and white sugar sand beaches, coupled with the mild winters that attracted people to the state in the first place, it was actually anglers seeking tarpon.

As early as the late 1800s tarpon tournaments were hosted on Useppa Island.  In those days anglers with button down suits and ties fished from rowboats towed to Boca Grande and Captiva passes. Anglers are no longer wearing suits and rowboats have given way to technical skiffs and tower boats, but great schools of tarpon still invade local waters in May, June and July.

reel time Tarpon Time
The spectacular jumps of tarpon have held anglers spellbound since the 1800s. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Ninety miles to the north the Gulf flats that front the sleepy town of Homosassa were and are home to some of the most prolific tarpon fisheries in the world. Homosassa’s love affair with tarpon could be said to have started in 1882 when Anthony Weston Dimock hooked a tarpon in the Homosassa River.

“At first I thought the wonderful being was a mermaid,” Dimock recounted. “As I noted her fierce display of activity and strength, I pitied the merman who came home late without a better excuse than a meeting of the lodge.”

Winslow Homer, (1836-1910) the great American sporting artist, also came under the spell of Homosassa. In 1904, Homer painted at least 11 watercolors during a stay there. In a letter to his brother Arthur, Homer described Homosassa as, “The best fishing in America as far as I can find.” In the 21st century, many have experienced a love affair with the mermaids of Homosassa. While the history of the region runs deep with redfish, trout, cobia, grouper and hundreds of other species, it is the tarpon that have made Homosassa a legendary fly fishing destination. A quick look at a map makes it clear why this region has been such a magnet for tarpon and the anglers that pursue them. It’s still one of Florida’s most pristine areas with thousands of islands, clear spring-fed rivers and a habitat rich in marine life.

While Homosassa has been the place most mentioned in tarpon lore, it was actually a large area from Crystal River to Pine Island, near Bayport where the anglers fished. The greatest concentrations of tarpon were located between Chassahowitzka’s Black Rock and the flat known as Oklahoma near Pine Island.

It was Black Rock, Lower Rack, Upper Rack (dilapidated net drying racks) and Oklahoma that dominated discussions both on and off the water. The first anglers that pursued tarpon from Crystal River to Pine Island used conventional tackle, but they undoubtedly led the way for fly anglers who discovered one of the world’s greatest fly fisheries. Eustace Locklear, a native of Homosassa and a man remembered by everyone who fished the area with a fly, learned to fish for tarpon from Jonnie Elmer, of Crystal River. Elmer caught his tarpon by trolling the river with an inboard boat.

Although anglers have been fishing for tarpon since the 1800s, it was Harold LeMaster and Kirk Smith, of St Petersburg’s L&S Lure Company (MirrOLure), and Dee Mitchell, their friend and doctor, that can be credited (unintentionally) with introducing the fly fishing world to Homosassa.

The three anglers regularly fished plugs for tarpon near Honeymoon Island. On a day when the tarpon weren’t showing, they topped off their tank and headed north in search of fish. When they reached the area north of Pine Island they ran into schools of tarpon that would forever change the history of fly fishing.

Fly fishing legend Lefty Kreh was introduced to Homosassa by Mitchell, LeMaster, and Smith after he moved to Largo from Miami in 1971. Kreh became the outdoor editor of the St. Petersburg Times after heading the prestigious MET Tournament in Miami. By all accounts, Kreh caught the first tarpon on a fly in the Homosassa area. Kreh introduced these anglers to fly fishing.

“LeMaster wanted to learn how to cast, although he always preferred plug casting,” says Kreh, who remembers him being a good caster and led him to a 100-pound tarpon on fly at Homosassa.

LeMaster and Smith also introduced Clearwater homebuilder and rod maker Gary Marconi to Homosassa during the early 1970s. Marconi fly fished the area with his college buddy Norman Duncan from Miami. Duncan, the creator of the Duncan Loop, was one of Florida’s original saltwater fly fishers.

Marconi made Captain Dan Malzone aware of the area’s phenomenal tarpon fishing. Marconi was building fly rods for Malzone in the early 1970s when he learned that Malzone had built a house on Pine Island, south of Chassahowitzka.

“Marconi turned white as a sheet when he realized where the house was,” says Malzone. “I had built a house overlooking one of the area’s most famous flats, one that Marconi and Duncan had been secretly fishing for several years.

“He then asked me when the house would be ready, and when I told him May, he said that would be perfect. As it turned out we slept in the house with no furniture along with Marconi and his friends Neil Sigeartsen and Pete Centerrno.”

To say the fishing was spectacular is a bit of an understatement according to Marconi, who kept a log book in the early days. His best day, April 29, 1975, shows that he and Duncan jumped 56 tarpon by noon.

Captain Dale Perez, a Tampa native and Keys guide, heard about Homosassa from Duncan.

“Captain Steve Huff and I were having breakfast at Stout’s in Marathon when Norman Duncan came in and showed us a picture of a huge tarpon he had caught in Homosassa,” says Perez. Duncan was one of the early anglers who made the Keys guides aware of Homosassa’s fly fishing potential.

Perennial tarpon angler Tom Evans remembers a day soon after this encounter when he was fishing with Huff in the Keys.

“The weather was terrible,” Evans relates, “and Huff asked me if I wanted to go check out a place on the west coast of Florida that he had heard about.” We spent two days there and had terrible weather,” says Evans. “Despite the conditions, we saw enough big tarpon to realize the area’s potential.”

Stu Apte was another angler who had heard about Homosassa well before it became a destination.

“Ray Donesberger, one of my best clients, had stopped by Homosassa on his way to the Keys to fish. While he was there he went out with Eustace Locklear and four other anglers.

“When Locklear spotted a school of tarpon he would position the boat with a paddle and cast a MirrOLure to the fish. He had given everyone a number and when he hooked up he would set the hook and say Number one, your turn.”

Apte next heard about the area from Lefty Kreh.

“He’s the one that really lit my fire,” says Apte. “I made my first trip to Homosassa in the early ’70s.”

Apte never guided at Homosassa, choosing instead to share poling and fishing with his good friend Captain Ralph Delph. One of Apte’s fondest memories is the day he landed two world records on one day.

reel time Casting For Recovery

Casting for recovery

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

The cool air along the Chattahoochee River mingled with the mid-morning sun created a magical backdrop for the female fly fishers as they worked their way along the stream with their guides.

I had arrived in the North Georgia mountains the previous afternoon and was honored to be included with a number of journalists covering a Casting For Recovery Retreat.

The event had started a day prior to my arrival on a Friday afternoon at Smithgall Woods State Park near Helen, Ga. That Saturday, the participants were taught the basics of fly casting, fly fishing and had the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed day in the Blue Ridge foothills.

Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 in Manchester, Vermont, by a breast reconstruction surgeon and a professional fly-fisher. Awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1998, Casting for Recovery’s innovative program focuses on improving the quality of life for women with breast cancer, and has garnered endorsements from medical experts nationwide.

I learned about the event from Jimmy Harris, owner of Unicoi Outfitters, a major sponsor of the two-and-a-half-day event. The women were fishing a private stretch of the Chattahoochee managed by Unicoi Outfitters, a favorite fly fishing haunt of mine. Harris, his wife Kathy, his staff of local fly fishing guides and area volunteers were working up and down the river with the participants, exploring the many runs, riffles and pools that hold some trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout.

As I photographed the anglers and their guides, I was struck by the good humor, the spirit and resilience of a group of women who were recovering from one of life’s most devastating challenges. Whether they were strong enough to wade the swift currents or needed to sit in a chair at the water’s edge, these indomitable women were embracing their lives and the camaraderie of their fellow fly fishers on this halcyon day.

At the end of the day’s fishing, everyone had experienced the thrill of hooking, fighting and landing one of the river’s beautiful trout. That afternoon they returned to Smithgall Woods for lunch, an awards ceremony and a slide show highlighting the weekend’s activities.

Casting For Recovery depends on the support and goodwill of business owners like Jimmy Harris, medical professionals and the volunteers that are so critical to the program’s success. They offer 60 retreats across the country, host 800 women each year and have served over 8,000 women to date. The program is free of charge to participants. To learn how you can help, donate or shop in their online store.

Waterline fishing tournament group

Waterline hosts Kings for Kids Fishing Tournament

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors.

The Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach hosted its first Kings for Kids Fishing Tournament April 21 in Holmes Beach. The event was held in conjunction with the Marriott Business Council. Winners include team Chasin’ Tail members Chad Grimmer, Kenny Grimmer, Adam Ray and Gregg Rodier for largest Spanish mackerel catch. The largest king mackerel was caught by Chad Grimmer. Aaron Berger and Russel Jones won for the highest total combined weight of king and Spanish mackerel caught. Sponsors for the event were the Waterline Marina Resort, Marriott, Coppertail Brewing, AMI Outfitters and Boars Head.

Waterline fishing tournament boat
A fishing boat comes back into the marina at Waterline. – David Rano | Submitted
LifeLines: Fishing facts

LifeLines: Fishing facts

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in LifeLines, Outdoors.

Fishing from the beach or wade fishing off the beach requires a saltwater shoreline fishing license for residents and non-residents.

You do not need the license if:

  • you have a resident recreational saltwater fishing license
  • you are fishing from a pier that has a blanket license
  • you are fishing in your home county with a pole or line not equipped with a line retrieval device
  • you are 65 or over and are a Florida resident
  • you are under 16 from any state
  • you are a Florida resident and a member of the U.S. Armed Forces not stationed in Florida and are here on leave for 30 days or less
  • you are eligible for food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid

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LifeLines: Get into the swim zone

Hunter Parrish

Fishing against the odds

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Every angler longs for the day when conditions are textbook.  After all, fishing is hard enough without having to deal with extremes of weather. Unfortunately, those days are few and far between, especially this time of the year. Besides being hard to find, there is no guarantee that good conditions will yield decent fishing. In truth, I’ve found many beautiful days to be particularly challenging, whereas some of the most difficult days have proven to be especially rewarding.

This was the case last Friday, when a trip that my friend Hunter Parrish and I had planned was looking questionable. A cold front had pushed chilly temperatures and high winds into the area, and combined with a weak tide were conspiring to make us question going out. Since we had been forced to cancel the outing on several other occasions, we resolved to give it a try.

The cold front had dropped water temperature a full 10 degrees, and the incoming tide wouldn’t make any kind of move until mid-morning. In order to allow it to warm up a bit and to let the tide start in, we decided to begin at 10 that morning.

We launched on the north end of Longboat Key and ran to the eastern shore of Sarasota Bay near Tidy Island. I reasoned that the flats there would be relatively warm and that the eastern shore would provide some protection from the wind.

We had originally planned to fly fish, but because of conditions, elected to start the day using spin tackle. I set us up on a drift in six to eight feet of water over deep grass on the outside edge of the deep grass on the outside edge of the flats. Parrish tied on a DOA Shrimp, while I elected to use a top water plug hoping to attract the attention of a bluefish.

We had only drifted a short distance when the DOA started to produce. I wasn’t having any luck with the top water plug, so after a couple of drifts, I switched to a tandem chartreuse jig.

Surprisingly, I didn’t get much response from the tandem rig, so I tied on a DOA Shrimp too. That did the trick. The fish weren’t big, but action was consistent for both of us. The trout ran 10 to 12 inches with an occasional 14- and 15-inch fish mixed in.

After catching fish on every drift for better than an hour, we elected to move to the north and explore the flats closer to shore. The tide was rising, and we wanted to find a redfish, snook or perhaps some larger trout. Now that the sun was high and clear water was moving onto the flat, we hoped to be able to find some fish by poling the shallows.

Our next stop proved a bit disappointing. There were a lot of small sheepshead on the flats, but we only saw one decent trout of about 24 inches. A bit further to the north near the Cortez village things started to improve.

Although we didn’t hook up we had numerous shots at redfish to 30 inches, several trout that ran to 22 inches and saw a couple of snook that pushed 40 inches.

Whenever I’m faced with tough winter fishing conditions, there are a few things I always keep in mind that have proven to be effective.

First and foremost, I look for protected water in the lee of an island or other landmass. Protection from cold wind gives the sun a chance to warm the water, creating conditions that are more comfortable for gamefish and the angler. Next, I vary my presentation, making sure to slow it down and work my lure close to the bottom.

I try to think like a fish, being on the lookout for an area that might attract predator and prey. A good example is a shallow bay where the water warms up during the day and drains out on a late afternoon falling tide. Under the right conditions, it produces consistently.

For the balance of our short day, we poled the flats getting some good shots at quality fish. While we didn’t hook up, we enjoyed being on the water, spending time together and even found a couple of areas that we will definitely return to. At the end of the day, we were glad we had committed to going out.

It wasn’t a banner day, but against the odds we had located some good fish and landed a few as well. Best of all was time on the water with a good friend.

Reel Time

Catch and release: Pass it on

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Talk of catch and release was once common among anglers. These days I’m seeing and hearing less about it and some of the postings in social media make me wonder if this important conservation tool needs to be revisited.

Catch and release wasn’t always something you heard about around sportfishing circles. It became prevalent when fish populations became stressed in the late 1980s and organizations like the Florida Conservation Association (now the Coastal Conservation Association) were being formed. Slowly it caught on as an important tool to help flagging fisheries rebound.

Most anglers I know who practice catch and release have no problem with taking an occasional fish home for dinner. It’s more about enjoying the sport and trying to be proactive in helping it to remain healthy and viable. There are many species that have little or no food value that anglers seldom intentionally kill.

But catch and release is not just about releasing fish that you don’t want; it’s also about releasing undersized species. Catch and release is a wise use of the resource, but, unfortunately, many anglers don’t know why it’s important or how to properly handle fish.

When we get cut or bruised, we can head for the local drug store or in more extreme cases the emergency room. Not so for fish. For them it’s heal or die, and in their world it’s the sick and wounded that fall prey to predators. It’s a shame not to release a big speckled trout full of roe, but worse when you do and it’s eaten by a shark, barracuda or other predator because it wasn’t handled properly. Releasing fish with a minimum of damage is important with a 6-pound trout, a 150-pound tarpon and everything in between.

The first thing to do is make sure you’re using the right tackle for the species being pursued. Trying to land a 100-plus-pound tarpon on 20-pound tackle might be OK if you’re experienced, but to the uninitiated it’s like announcing a free meal to sharks that ply local waters looking for weak or injured prey. You want to enjoy the action, but landing fish as quickly as possible is important to their survival.

Once you have the fish subdued, the best course is to never take them out of the water. If you’ve been fighting a big fish, like a tarpon, for a long time make sure you have revived them alongside the boat. This is best done by slowly moving the boat forward while holding the fish. This forces water and oxygen through their gills. They’ll let you know when they’re ready to go. Other fast-swimming fish like little tunny, kingfish and Spanish mackerel need to be released quickly and launched head first to give them a head start.

The hook is another important consideration. Circle hooks and barbless hooks are good for anglers and fish. Circle hooks are a must for fragile fish that tend to swallow hooks, speckled trout being a good example. These hooks are designed to lodge in the fish’s jaw and there’s no need to set the hook.

Once a circle hook is set it seldom comes out. Some anglers don’t like to bend their barbs down because they’re afraid the fish will spit the hook. The key to keeping fish on a barbless hook is to keep the line tight. Whatever hook you use, a de-hooker will prevent you from having to handle your catch, keep your hands clean and prevent you from inadvertently harming the fish’s protective mucus membrane.

Fish secrete a protective coating that covers the scales and skin. This acts as a defense against invasion by bacterial, parasitic and fungal pathogens. De-hookers come in various shapes depending on how they’re used. The simplest is J-shaped and removes hooks in or near the jaw. A circular shaped longer version allows anglers to remove hooks that are deep in the throat of a fish.  A set of pliers can also be used if the hook is easily accessible.

Anglers who fish for reef fish like snapper and grouper need to learn how to vent fish with inflated swim bladders. Bringing the fish up from deep depths quickly bloats their bladder, which has to be punctured to allow the fish to reach the bottom. A good presentation of the process can be found on YouTube.

Anglers that release a trophy-sized fish may want to take home a picture. Some forethought will assure a good image and a healthy fish. Set your exposure in advance and have an idea where in the boat you want to take the picture. The best option, especially for large fish like tarpon, would be while it’s still in the water. If it’s a smaller fish and you do remove it from the water, hold it horizontally with one hand near the head and the other hand under the fish’s belly to support its weight. Holding a fish vertically puts a strain on the internal organs and can potentially dislocate its jaw. This is particularly important with larger fish.

By being prepared, anglers can release their catch fast helping to ensure its chances of survival. Taking the time and having the tools and knowledge to release fish properly is a great way to help ensure a healthy resource both now and in the future. Catch and release is an important concept that needs to be practiced and discussed among anglers.

Winter brings new species

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Outdoors.

Things are definitely turning toward a wintertime trend in the waters around Anna Maria Island. With the past couple of fronts, the water temperatures in the Gulf have dipped just a bit. They’re in the high 60s for the most part. These changes bring an influx of new species into our area for the winter. Sheepshead, black drum, Florida pompano, tripletail, bluefish and kingfish are the most sought after game fish. We here at Anna Maria Charters are trying to prepare for this change and switch up tactics a bit. Shrimp will be a large part of our repertoire. Personally, I love the fight of a healthy black drum. And when they aren’t too big, I find the fillets to be quite tasty.

blacktip shark

Pompano fishing is improving as well. These little gold nuggets are scrappy and excellent table fare. Catch and release is something we find important, and there is always a variety of species that are fun fighters and great if you just enjoy the tug of a tenacious animal. Jack crevalle and blacktips are seemingly everywhere right now. Always fun to tangle with these relentless fighters. – Capt. Dave White

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival celebrates 35

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – At the edge of the main parking lot at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is a fringe of green, the edge of the 95-acre FISH Preserve, made possible by the modest admission price paid by thousands of festival fans over the past 35 years.

The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) purchased the last, long-coveted privately owned parcel last summer from Iris LeMasters, of Grand Rapids, Mich., who had offered it at $1.2 million 12 years ago, inviting buyers to “Build your Florida dream home on this one-of-a-kind half-acre bayfront lot completely surrounded by preserve.”

FISH paid $185,000 for the land, making the preserve 95 contiguous acres of uplands and wetlands bordered by Cortez Road to the north and mangrove-fringed Sarasota Bay to the south, serving as a buffer between the historic fishing village of Cortez and development to the east.

The FISH Preserve is now uninterrupted since FISH acquired the last parcel. – Cindy Lane | Sun

The preserve and the 35th anniversary of the festival were only two of the things FISH celebrated this year.
Festival volunteers Peg Miller, Sam Valeris and the Cortez Park crew were honored with awards, along with Capt. Soupy Davis, 90, for his contributions to the fishing industry and his fiddle playing at the Florida Maritime Museum’s monthly Music on the Porch jam sessions.

The pioneer award was presented to the unofficial matriarch of Cortez, Mary Francis Fulford Green.

Mary Fulford Green was presented with a Cortez pioneer award on Saturday. – Cindy Lane | Sun

The granddaughter of Cortez pioneer Capt. Billy Fulford, she graduated from Bradenton High School in 1942 as valedictorian. She attended the Florida State College for Women (later Florida State University) in Tallahassee, earning a doctorate in education.

A great-grandmother, founder of Hope Family Services and longtime community activist, “She has done everything in her power as a mother would to protect what she sees as her special child – this village,” FISH board member Jane von Hahmann said in presenting the award.

https://www.cortez-fish.org/fishing-festival.html