Fort Pierce City Marina, a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge, and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188.
These notes from Anne Maurer, Dockmaster
As of Thursday, 9/7, Fort Pierce City Marina is pumping fuel 22 hours a day to assist cruisers fleeing north in the path of Hurricane Irma. Gasoline is limited to 200 gals and diesel is limited to 500 gals.
We have no space for overnight dockage but will accommodate fuel bunkering.
Fort Pierce City Marina 1 Ave A; Fort Pierce, Florida P:772-464-1245 F: 772-464-2589 www.fortpiercecitymarina.org
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
Winston,
I received your voice message. Below is what we are sharing out, please feel free to use or edit- Nerissa
South Florida is currently in the 4-day forecast cone for Hurricane Irma. As we prepare for Hurricane Irma, please be advised that www.discovermartin will have a weather advisory scrolling across the top of the page. Additional information and numbers are listed below:
Florida Emergency Information 24-hour Hotline: 800-342-3557
Local Martin County Public Information Line: 772-287-1652
Find current updates on social media by following and using #FloridaNow
You can also text “FLPrepares” to 888777 to receive Alert Florida notifications.
Visit Florida in partnership with Expedia have activated www.Expedia.com/Florida to provide accommodations availability information for visitors, residents and first responders.
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Harbortown Marina lies off the southern shores of the Canaveral Barge Canal between Sykes Creek and the Banana River. This fine facility has now expanded their ship’s store and now has a new on-site restaurant!
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral | Merritt Island Port Canaveral Boat Storage & Fuel
Full Service Marina with Fuel in Merritt Island – Port Canaveral, Florida
Press Release: Harbortown Marina Welcomes New On-Site Restaurant
Island Dockside Grill at Harbortown Opening Soon at Local Marina
Merritt Island, FL (March 23, 2017) — Harbortown Marina, located in Merritt Island, Florida, near Port Canaveral, is excited to welcome the “Island Dockside Grill at Harbortown” as its newest on-site amenity. The restaurant space on the property has recently undergone extensive renovations, and the new restaurant plans to open in mid-April. Island Dockside Grill at Harbortown will be open to the public, and is the sister location to Merritt Island’s “The Island Waterfront Bar and Grill”. All are invited to meet and greet with restaurant staff at the upcoming CFFW Marina Flea Market, to be held March 25-26, 2017, at the marina. The Island Dockside Grill at Harbortown will be cooking out and offering a limited menu.
The original The Island Waterfront Bar and Grill is located near Banana River Park on East Merritt Island Causeway. A favorite among Merritt Island residents, the local restaurant is known for its menu offering of waterway favorites. Whether it’s seafood, burgers, salads or quesadillas, the Island Bar and Grill offers a traditional oceanside menu that is proven to be a success. Tie in a quality menu with the restaurant’s variety of live music, theme nights, and special events, and you have the makings of an instant local favorite.
The Island Dockside Grill at Harbortown has been undergoing renovations by local construction company, Rush Construction, Inc., and is scheduled to open in mid-April.
“We are delighted to have the owners of The Island choosing to open their second location here at Harbortown Marina. One of our most beloved amenities has always been having an on-site restaurant,” said Jan Chnupa the owner of the Harbortown Marina Canaveral. “With renovations, we’ve provided more space for bar seating and live music. We are hopeful that our customers and the public will be pleased.”
Those wishing to catch a sneak peek at the upcoming restaurant food fare can do so at the annual CFFW Marine Flea Market, which will take place on Saturday, March 25th, and Sunday, March 26th, from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Harbortown Marina. Admission and parking for the event are free.
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Harbortown Marina lies off the southern shores of the Canaveral Barge Canal between Sykes Creek and the Banana River. This fine facility has now expanded their ship’s store!
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral | Merritt Island Port Canaveral Boat Storage & Fuel
Full Service Marina with Fuel in Merritt Island – Port Canaveral, Florida
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral Continues with Expansion, Hires New General Manager!
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral has recently undergone several on-site expansion and construction projects, including the renovation completion of the on-site restaurant for new tenant, “The Island Dockside Grill at Harbortown”, which opened in April 2017. Other on-site projects include a complete office remodel, the addition of a larger marina store, offering a variety of everyday and boating specific items for sale, new landscaping, plus dock and resident-amenity improvements, including bathroom renovations. In addition to these updates, Harbortown Marina – Canaveral has also brought on board a new general manager for the property, Central Florida’s own, Bill Friedrich.
Bill Friedrich has a history in customer service, spending the majority of his professional career in the Orlando tourism industry. A board member for both the Central Florida Lodging and Hospitality Association, as well as the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, Friedrich is no stranger to Florida hospitality. In total, Bill will be bringing over 17 years of hospitality and tourism industry experience to the marina, which is expected to bring more welcome changes to the Harbortown Marina – Canaveral site soon.
“I am truly excited to be part of the Harbortown Team and appreciate the warm welcome to the community.” Bill says. “During my first month at the marina, I saw that we do a lot of things really well. However, continuous improvement in all aspects of our daily operation will be the key to our future success.
I have been delighted with the facility upgrades, which were one of the first steps to enhancing both the customer and the team member experience at Harbortown Marina – Canaveral. I can definitely say there will be more enhancements to come as we strive to be the Space Coast marina of choice.”
About Harbortown Marina – Canaveral:
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral is located in Merritt Island, FL and is a full-service marina offering covered rack storage, long term dry storage,wet slips, and outdoor cradle storage. Public amenities include on-site restaurant & bar, marina store, and ethanol-free fuel on-site. The property is a naturally protected harbor with minimal tidal changes, and provides access to both the Indian and Banana rivers, with deep water access to the ocean via the Canaveral Lock.
In July of 2016, several popular Miami area anchorages, including Sunset Lake, were declared to be Banned Anchoring Areas by the FWC. See Bill Murdock’s article and chart on these banned zones: /163814
Cruisers’ Net would like to know if any of you south Florida cruisers have attempted to anchor in Sunset Lake and, if so, what were the results? Is the ban being enforced? Let us hear from you.
We anchored north of Sunset Lake near Mount Sinai Hospital for three weeks last spring. The only boats we saw anchored in Sunset Lake were local motor boats stopping in the calm water for the afternoon to swim, sit in the sun, or frolic. We saw no cruising motor or sail anchored there and nothing anchored overnight.
I assume all anchoring spots not shaded on Waterway’s chart are still open to overnight anchoring.
Dinghy access is problem. The only two ‘legal’ spots are the dock at the police station with its 20 minute limit and the dock at the older Publics store on Collins Canal. We have been told that the Publics dock now has a time restriction. Bill Murdoch
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Harbortown Marina lies off the southern shores of the Canaveral Barge Canal between Sykes Creek and the Banana River. This fine facility has now expanded their ship’s store!
Upgrades, Updates, and More!
Here at Harbortown Marina – Canaveral, we are dedicated to providing a beautiful, comfortable marina for our residents and visitors to enjoy. Harbortown Marina – Canaveral has undergone several improvement projects, including new landscaping, bathroom renovations, a new marina store, and more! These changes, and the changes that are still to come, are all part of why Harbortown Marina – Canaveral is the place to be!
Introducing New Harbortown Marina – Canaveral General Manager: Bill Friedrich
“I am truly excited to be part of the Harbortown Team and appreciate the warm welcome to the community. During my first month at the marina, I saw that we do a lot of things really well. However, continuous improvement in all aspects of our daily operation will be the key to our future success.
I have been delighted with the facility upgrades, which were one of the first steps to enhancing both the customer and the team member experience at Harbortown Marina – Canaveral. I can definitely say there will be more enhancements to come as we strive to be the Space Coast marina of choice.”
Stick on a decal to show support for Florida’s manatees, sea turtles
There are more manatees and sea turtles in Florida than in any other state. More than 6,000 manatees swim in its coastal waters, rivers and freshwater springs, and thousands of sea turtles nest and hatch on its Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches.
It’s easy to show support for these iconic Florida species by sticking on a decal.
Every July the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) introduces new manatee and sea turtle decals available with a $5 donation.
The colorful, waterproof decals are designed to look great on a vehicle’s bumper or the side of a boat. Get them when registering or re-registering a vehicle or boat at local tax collectors’ offices across the state.
“Florida is home to more manatees and sea turtles than anywhere else in the U.S.,” said Carol Knox, who leads the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section. “Public support has been critical in helping us conserve these imperiled species. So please ‘stick on a decal’ and show support for our manatees and sea turtles.”
Decals generate funding for research, rescue and management efforts that help Florida’s manatees and sea turtles survive. For instance, when someone calls the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report an injured, entangled or sick manatee or sea turtle, FWC staff responds with efforts to rescue and rehabilitate the animal.
The decals also address important conservation issues:
“Look out for manatees” is the message on the new manatee decal, which shows boaters in the distance as a manatee mother and calf swim along with only her back above water.When boating or using a personal watercraft in Florida waters, it is important to look out for manatees. Mature manatees grow to 1,000 pounds or more, but can be difficult to see when they’re swimming, grazing or resting underwater. Wear polarized sunglasses, and then watch and listen carefully to detect the signs of manatees nearby. Look for circles on the water’s surface indicating their underwater movement and snouts sticking out of the water as they surface to breathe. You may also hear huffing noises when they come up for air.
“Helping sea turtles survive” is the message on the new sea turtle decal, which shows a green sea turtle. Green sea turtles nest on Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches, and until recently were classified as endangered. Now after years of conservation efforts, the number of nesting green turtles has increased substantially. This species has been reclassified as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. That’s a major step in “green” recovery. Remember, “Hands off” is the best policy for beachgoers encountering any species of nesting or hatchling sea turtles. Watch from a distance, do not disturb them and never use a cellphone or camera to shoot flash photos.
Oh, my aching back and arms! Our thanks to Sue Morgan for sharing this story. A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Old Port Cove is located on the western shore of the northern Lake Worth channel, near unlighted daybeacon #7.
Rowing to New York from Miami – What a Daunting Journey! By Sue Morgan, Marketing Director, Old Port Cove Holdings, Inc.
Last Thursday, on a hot and sticky June evening, Old Port Cove Marina had the pleasure to host Greg Dougherty, President of the Covington Diocese World Apostolate of Fatima Division in Kentucky and his 18’ rowboat. You see Greg, is on a rowing excursion, a mere 1400 or so miles, from Miami to New York in an 18’ rowboat named the “Santa Maria de la Fatima.” Upon meeting Greg, of course, my first question was “Why would you undertake such a monumentous trip.? In a gentle voice filled with purpose he explained a great desire to raise awareness, show his dedication to and inspire children and families to have a relationship with Our Lady of Fatima. His desire was born following an event that occurred while in the tail effects of Hurricane Bertha in an ocean row boat 100 miles off the coast of Barbados. I can only imagine…or maybe I can’t! I found Greg to be an inspirational man with humor and wit and we joked about how skinny he’d be at the end of the trip. Suffice it to say, we were thrilled to contribute albeit it in a very small way his big journey. While the row boat was docked for the night, Greg stayed at the Passionist Monastery Retreat nearby. I’m certain he was much more comfortable there than the previous when circumstances led up to him sleeping onboard in West Palm Beach. Greg does have a rowing partner Gerald Sargent, a British Catholic but he had been delayed due to his duties with the Royal Marine. They trained together in the English Channel. I’d like to take the opportunity to encourage our marina neighbors along the eastern seaboard, to welcome Greg and his team with open arms to help them along their way. Also, please take pictures and post them to your social media channels to help spread the word! The entire crew here at Old Port Cove Marina wish Greg & Gerald fair winds and calm seas for the remainder of their inspirational rowing adventure! To learn more, click the following website, Rowing4Fatima.com
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Harbortown Marina lies off the southern shores of the Canaveral Barge Canal between Sykes Creek and the Banana River. This fine facility has now expanded their ship’s store!
Our Fully Stocked Marina Store is Now Open!
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral is happy to announce that our remodeled Marina Store is now open! Enjoy easy access to all of your boating needs, located right here on the Harbortown Marina – Canaveral property.
You Have the Boat. We Have the Parts!
The marina store carries a variety of parts, nuts, bolts, and fluids for your boat. Whether you are working on a D.I.Y boating project, or a repair, the Marina Store has what you need in-stock or available by special order.
Tell us why you love keeping your boat at Harbortown Marina – Canaveral. Or, if you do not currently keep your boat at Harbortown, tell us why you love boating!
Winner drawn at random. Winner to be announced on 6/28/2017.
You must comment on the original post on the Harbortown Marina – Canaveral Facebook page by 12:00 PM (noon) on 6/28/2017 to enter!
*This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
Our thanks to Kim Russo for sharing this good news via AGLCA‘s Forum and also to Mike Bodin of MTOA. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that in the future this law will stand up to the pressure on legislators from wealthy landowners to restrict anchoring.
Great news! I was just notified by our lobbyist that HB 7043 was approved by the Governor. It is law. As of now, no local municipality or county in the state of Florida may ban, restrict, or otherwise regulate an anchorage in Florida coastal waters. Loopers’ interest in this issue and financial contributions helped prevent the enactment of any setbacks that could have resulted in the elimination of any existing anchorages state wide.
Congratulations to all Loopers, members of MTOA, SSCA, and others who supported this effort, stuck with it, and made your voices heard! You have made a difference to the boating community. Special thanks goes out to Jerry Paul of Capitol Access for his diligent efforts on our behalf. His guidance and hard work made all the difference.
Kim Russo Director America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association krusso@greatloop.org
And this from Mike Bodin, MTOA Public Affairs:
Thank you AGLCA, SSCA, MTOA and DeFever, for your continued support. Florida’s anchoring Bill now is law. Florida’s new Mooring & Anchoring bill has become law. The Governor just approved HB 7043. It is law. As of now, the new law explicitly states no local municipality or county in the state of Florida may ban, restrict, or otherwise regulate an anchorage in Florida coastal waters. This plainly worded section of the new law eliminates each community from setting its own regulations. If this section was not plainly worded it would have resulted in many lost anchorages over time with boaters challenging cities for the right to anchor. Instead, we got the pre-emotion provision … preventing any local government from banning an anchorage. It was important for us to ensure there were no unreasonable setbacks in this bill. But, as I have said in the past, the single most valuable piece of this bill is the preemption provision. This seals off local governments. The only way that a new anchorage can be banned is by an Act of the entire Legislature and Governor. We can almost always kill such a bill. Moreover, we can likely kill any future effort to overturn the preemption or add new band and ranges in state statute. With the state level preemption and no local control, we are now in a position of strength. It is a home-field advantage for our side. Without preemption, however, the entire issue is a home game for all the anti-cruisers in EACH of their local communities… an infinite number battles that we would not be able to fight piecemeal. Moreover, SSCA, AGLCA, MTOA and DeFever prevented the enactment of any setbacks that could have resulted in the elimination of any existing anchorages state wide. Finally, you did a lot to rehabilitate some of the negative imagery about anchoring cruisers that had made its way to the Capitol. Congratulations to each of you, this team, and all the members of MTOA, SSCA, AGLCA, DeFever who supported your effort, stuck with you, and made your voices heard… to protect the freedoms of cruisers. The above is from our Tallahassee “Boaters Rights” Lobbyists Jerry Paul of Capitol Access who skillfully guided this legislation through six committee hearings with unanimous approval. Of major importance was the fact this was the accumulation of Florida’s 9-year, multi-million dollar, anchoring study resulting in a 256 page report. It was thought Florida’s new law may be a precedent for other states along the waterway. This was a primary cause to eliminate as much as possible harmful to boater’s language which would be in the new law. Counties, cities, waterside home owners and condominium groups were for local control to establish nonanchoring zones. Local control was totally defeated. Today the new law requires very high standards for counties to satisfy to even approach the state to establish new non-anchoring zones. Another major accomplishment, within the original FWC report, waterside residents were insistent for non-anchoring setbacks of 150’ up to 300’ along the waterway. This would have eliminated many now popular anchorages. The new law eliminated these setbacks for boaters. During this same time, we were instrumental with Florida’s new Derelict Vessel law, the previous bill was defeated because we felt it was too harsh for the boat owner, fines to high and did not give adequate time for owner removal. The new Derelict Vessel Law corrects these items. Mike Bodin MTOA Public Advocate
And this from BoatUS
NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States 880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria VA 22304 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Florida Bill Strengthens Derelict Vessel Fight,
Promotes Environmentally Sound Public Access
BoatUS thanks governor and legislature
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 27, 2017 – The results of an eight-year pilot program are in, and Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature have acted. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) congratulates the governor and legislators on Friday’s passage of HB 7043 that promotes environmentally sound public access and helps address the issue of improperly stored, abandoned or derelict vessels. “These are sound regulations supported by responsible boaters,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy.
When the pilot program was enacted in 2009, a patchwork of local anchoring regulations sometimes made stopping difficult. Some boaters reported fearing a visit from law enforcement advising that they had “overstayed” their visit and needed to move on.
Conducted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and five local governments including the City of St. Augustine, City of Stuart/Martin County, City of St. Petersburg, City of Sarasota and Monroe County/Marathon/Key West, the pilot tested a variety of methods of regulated anchoring, while still protecting the anchoring rights of the active cruising public. It also sought to reduce the growing population of derelict vessels in the state.
BoatUS expressly thanks Gov. Scott, Reps. Matt Caldwell (Lee County) Holly Raschein (Monroe County), Sen. Lauren Book (Broward County) and the FWC for their work on the bill.
Some of bill’s measures include:
providing commonsense anchoring regulations in and around mooring fields and waterway infrastructure. broadening the definition of a “derelict vessel”; for boats in use, adding new penalties for those whose vessel registration is expired beyond six months; and making it illegal to affix a vessel to an unpermitted, unauthorized or otherwise “unlawful object,” affixed to the bottom of the waters of the state. This could include an unpermitted mooring or an old engine block. giving local governments the option to require proof of pumpout after vessels have been anchored for 10 days or longer in federally managed no-discharge-zones (portions of the Florida Keys and waters off Destin).
That sounds like great new for boaters, just to clarify when you say no bans, restrictions etc. on coastal waters does this include the ICW or not? Thanks, Bill Cole.
If you are headed for the Bahamas this summer and would like company, give John and Judy a call.
Looking for buddy boat(s) to cruise the Bahamas. John and Judy are sailing a 35 ft Heritage, departing the Miami area the end of June or early July, looking for the company of other boats to join us on the trip. We find that sailing with a “buddy” or 2 increases the enjoyment. The cruising area will be the Abacos and Bimini. We are a retired couple and are not licensed boat captains, but John has extensive experience in the Bahamas, but not recently. If you think you would like to take the trip, give us a call at 863-655-4153 and we’ll talk about it. John and Judy Egizi
Our thanks to Kevin Koehl for this report and photo.
For those who cruise Florida’s East Coast on the ICW near Ormond Beach, the large rusting tug featuring The Pink Panther on the smoke stack has been an ICW icon for longer than most can remember. The tug was no longer afloat and was an environmental hazard. On June 2, the Coast Guard had the tug raised by a large crane and placed on a barge. The tug will be transported to Texas where it will be cut up for scrap. The ICW was closed during the day long removal operation. Kevin Koehl
David and Jaculeyn continue sharing the log of Elske via their delightful blog, The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop. Today’s page recounts their visit to Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Beach. Palm Cove Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, lies south of unlighted daybeacon #31, off the western shores of the Waterway, in the heart of Jacksonville Beach.
David and Jaculeyn continue sharing the log of Elske via their delightful blog, The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop. This page recounts their visit to the historic St. Augustine LightHouse which stands 161ft on St. Augustine Beach east of the Waterway.
The St Augustine Lighthouse is well worth visiting on Anastasia Island. The Museum is highly educational for all ages. If a person is inclined, the 14 stories can be climbed- 219!steps! David & I enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the exhibits but did not attempt the climb … perhaps some other time.
We learned about the history of the many shipwrecks, hurricanes and even an earthquake affecting St Augustine over the centuries. This Lighthouse saw Loyalist refugees from Charleston arrive after the Revolutionary War. The Civil War had immense influence here. It was directly affected by German UBoat submarines in WW2. Much archeological investigation is continuing here into the life local inhabitants such as the Lighthouse Keepers.
Another part of the property was devoted to the promotion and preservation of wooden boat building skills. The boats being built were exquisite.
Elske departs At 0705 on Memorial Day. We hate to leave after a long sojourn.
It is a very low “astronomical” low tide. The Bridge of Lions usually has a clearance height of 18 ft but today the side board registered 23 ft.
Mayport is at the mouth of the St. Johns River east of the St. Johns/AICW intersection.
News Release May 25, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville Office: (904) 714-7606/7607 After Hours: (305) 318-1864
Media Advisory: Coast Guard Auxiliary to hold vessel safety check demonstration in Jacksonville
WHO: Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
WHAT: A Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel safety check demonstration
WHEN: Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Media interested in attending are asked to RSVP no later than noon Friday with Coast Guard Public Affairs at 305-318-1864.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are scheduled to hold a vessel safety check demonstration Saturday for the media at Mayport Boat Ramp.
The event is being held as a part of National Safe Boating Week.
A VSC allows Auxiliarists to ensure a boat, kayak, canoe or even a paddleboard is seaworthy. Auxiliarists also check other equipment aboard, such as fire extinguishers and signal flares, to ensure their proper function and make recommendations to boaters on what they should have aboard.
This service is offered to the public for free. Anyone interested in scheduling a VSC can do so at the following link: http://cgaux.org/vsc/
National Safe Boating Week is an annual campaign held toward the end of May to reemphasize the importance of safe boating practices and the use of boating safety equipment. Events are held throughout the country to educate the boating public and offer boating advice.
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
Fish Where the Fish Are… in Martin County, Florida
Martin County, Florida, is popular with fish. Lots of fish. More than 800 different species within a ten-mile radius of the St. Lucie Inlet, to be exact, according to Dr. Grant Gilmore, a renowned marine scientist.
On the Atlantic coast, Martin County is just 85 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, in the overlap of two climate zones. This environment, along with a healthy reef system and the warm Gulf Stream current, bring lots of fish to these waters.
Which makes for excellent fishing here, regardless of what type of angler you are and what type of fish you like to catch.
Stuart, the county seat, has been called “Sailfish Capital of the World” since the 1950s, and with good reason. A 1949 Palm Beach Times article tells the tale of a fishing captain who ran out of bait and had to turn back after boating 19 ‘sails in a single outing. Sailfish are the fastest marine predators, and in winter months, it’s not uncommon to hook multiple sailfish at one time.
One recent angler tells the story of reeling in a mahi when a marlin came up and ate it. An hour and a half later, the fisherman landed the marlin on a line meant for a mahi. Other salt-water species that lead to mighty fish tales include Wahoo, pompano, grouper, snapper, cobia, sea bass and kingfish.
Martin County is renowned for its fresh-water fishing, too. The county stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the fresh waters of Lake Okeechobee on the west, with a rich system of rivers and canals in between. It’s possible to fish from Stuart all the way to Fort Myers and the Gulf of Mexico via the Okeechobee Waterway. Snook, tarpon, bass, redfish and seatrout are just a few of the fish that are plentiful and fun to catch inshore.
They call this area Florida’s Treasure Coast. Fishing enthusiasts who visit know why. It’s enough to make you say Wahoo!
David and Jaculeyn continue sharing the log of Elske via their delightful blog, The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop. This page recounts their visit to St. Augustine, a popular north Florida stop for Waterway cruisers.
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