A Total Backwater Adventure

May was an interesting to say the least, most was for the better while certain issues seemed to hit news papers, news on T.V, and website forums were all throwing stones, more like boulders on certain issues. I have tried really hard to stay out of the forums lately, because it seems just like High School gossip, more than a “for information site”. It seems where ever you go on the World Wide Web; you were bound to find something. That something is like a bad car accident; you don’t want to see it. But you can’t help but to look. I would just like to take a minute and go over my beliefs on some of these Arguments that I have seen and heard. On one popular web site there was a thread started called “remind me why the Redfish cup is good for Punta Gorda.” This was unbelievable reading to me, someone implied that the cup did nothing for Punta Gorda economically, and I can only say that. With the economy the way it is here in Charlotte, I’m willing to bet any business that made money off any of the anglers, where more than happy. True, not everyone benefited from holding a major ESPN tourney here. But it did help a few hotels, restaurants and other small shops around the area. The post then turned ugly blaming anglers for the destruction of the grass flats, spoiling the resources for profit, and not giving anything back in return. Far as the anglers go destroying our harbors grass flats, most of the persons who made these posts were not here in the 70’s. Way back, when I was young, we used to wade fish around Grassy Point and where the county pier is. We used to catch redfish until we were tired of catching them. The bottom was alive back then, I’m not saying covered with grass but, there was enough to support food for fish to feed on. Now, till this day boats still don’t run that area. But all the grass is gone. So are boats really tearing up the grass enough to kill entire flats of sea grass? I think they need to look at water quality in the harbor. Instead of looking at the obvious, you have to remember just like yards, the grass flats need sun light. With the harbor water getting darker over the last 30 years or so, due to drainage and everything else that’s pumped or spilled in the harbor. I would have to say since the surrounding counties grew, the harbor and it’s grass, has both took a substantial hit. Can you stop growth and expect a town to survive? How about this question, “Can you let a town grow, and grow, without expecting damage to the natural resources?” The answer to that question is “No”. And if the county and the surrounding counties, would have remembered something my dad referred to as the 7 P’s (Proper Pre Planning Prevents Piss Pour Production) maybe this could have had a better turn out. On to another issue that hit close to home, the world record hammerhead shark. Yes, Bucky Dennis broke another record, this time it was on 80lb test and he shattered the record by over 500lbs. The difference now, unlike his previous record, is that people are calling him the Shark killer, News hound, and a bunch of other names, some not even suitable for writing. Well, I would tend to ask every angler “ if they had a world record hooked up, and caught, would they release the fish?” No, they would not, at least not me. As an angler I want to be the best I can, and a world record would prove it. Earnest Hemmingway spent his life Chasing big fish in search of records. Now, I’m not comparing Bucky to Hemmingway but, what is the difference? The answer is “time” and that is it. Hands down I give credit where credit is due, and here you go Bucky, a big fat Credit Due. You might be crazy, or warped in the head, for messing with something that big, but you did it again, and it will be a long time before another angler beats those records. And your children’s kids can hold their heads high and say “My grandpa held the World’s record for the largest hammerhead shark ever caught on a rod and reel.” How’s that for show and tell day? Now on to the fishing, the big talk this month will be Tarpon. They are everywhere and eating well. Myself included has spent a lot of time chasing poons this season. They will eat a variety of swim baits, jigs, white bait, and crabs. And you do not have to leave the harbor to get it done. But while tarpon season is here many anglers forget about the back water species such as redfish, snook and trout. With everyone out hunting tarpon the flats have had a little chance to settle down and the fish are chewing. A lot of large snook have found their way into the Myakka Cutoff, when I say large, I mean fish over 33”. With a well full of large thread fins your chances are pretty good to find a huge line sider. Redfish action has been steady with good reports coming from around Gasparilla and up the inter coastal. This time of the year, half of blue crab is hard to beat. It seems like there are just a ton of five pound fish running around, and eager to eat. Trout fishing has been hot out near the markers in the harbor, I know it’s not the flats, but a bent rod is after all a bent rod. The deeper water seems to be holding a lot of trout, perhaps it is the abundance of bait in the harbor. Get out and fish.