Tag: Florida Keys

Tales of Treasure Ships (and a Giant Emerald)

Tales of Treasure Ships

Sunken treasure ships will never stop intriguing us.

There’s something so alluring about the idea of sunken treasure ships filled with pirate’s gold. It’s the combination of history, Pirates of the Caribbean movies, instant accumulation of wealth, and the lure of the sea. We all feel it, but it’s exceedingly rare to have it happen.

The late Mel Fisher certainly understood how it feels to make a discovery of a treasure trove.

Giant Emerald found in Key West

Off the site of the famed Atocha, off Key West, one lucky employee of Mel Fisher’s Treasures found a large emerald.

Employees of Mel Fisher’s Treasures search for treasure by sifting through the sand from the ocean floor. Photo courtesy of the Miami Herald.

“This one was so big I didn’t believe it at first when I looked in my hand,” said the finder, Megan McDowell, marketing and public relations director for Mel Fisher’s Treasures. “It was like winning the lottery. I was shaking like, is this real?”

Estimated at two carats, the uncut emerald turned up as employees sifted through sand brought up from the ocean floor and onto the J.P. Magruder search vessel at the Atocha site, a spot the hunters call “Emerald City.”

The emerald was one of the larger found by the company. Photo courtesy of the Miami Herald.

McDowell, who lives in Key West, declined to say how much the emerald is worth because it requires an appraisal. However, McDowell says the treasure company is convinced there are 70 pounds of emeralds still on the ocean floor at the site of the Atocha shipwreck.

A little background on the Atocha

Fisher and his team of treasure hunters discovered the Spanish galleon Atocha, which sailed gold-laden from Cuba, before it sank near Florida’s Marquesas Keys in 1622.

Fisher spent over sixteen years and millions of dollars searching for and recovering the Spanish galleon Atocha off the coast of the Florida Keys in 1985.

But he was forced to spend millions more defending his salvage rights against the state of Florida, local authorities around the Keys, and the federal government.

Fisher finally prevailed in the Supreme Court in his fight for the riches that he lawfully found and brought up from the depths of the sea.

But there’s something about treasure—everyone wants a piece. Maybe you can’t have it, but you can certainly see it. The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum has some of the artifacts on display and is open to the public.

The San Jose

However, it will take years to bring up the gold and treasure contents of the San Jose that rests at a depth of more than 1,000 feet off the coast of Colombia. It’s only one of many lost vessels. Their loot is scattered across the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico thanks to centuries of hurricanes.

Blame the Hurricane

Off the coast of Padre Island, Texas, a storm took down three vessels in 1544—the San Esteban, Espiritú Santo and the Santa Maria de Yciar. One of the Spanish vessels was destroyed during the construction of a cut from the Gulf to the Laguna Madre in the 1940s. Another was located and then looted by treasure hunters in 1967. The third, however, was discovered. The ship’s contents were recovered by the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory. Subsequently, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History was named repository of the San Esteban collection.

Hurricanes are a running as a common thread for the sinking of many of these ships. Eleven Spanish galleons sunk in 1715 off the east coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral. However, only five of these ships have been located and recovered. Similarly, 22 ships sunk south of the Florida Keys in 1733 (with many still waiting to yield up their booty).

Legal Battles

The discovery of these shipwrecks often leads to controversy and inevitable legal wrangling. Understandably so: we’re talking enormous wealth reaching into the billions of dollars up for grabs.

This is certainly true of the recent discovery off Colombia. In 1981 a treasure outfit known as Sea Search Armada claimed to have located the San Jose. What ensued was a decades-long legal battle over their share of the fortunes. Many nations including the United States lay claim to percentages of recovered artifacts, with most ending up in museums.

But don’t let the law get you down. Dreaming of giving up your day job and becoming a treasure hunter? Start small. There’s always the baby step of buying a handheld metal detector and beach-combing. The sea periodically churns up Gold and other Spanish coins. Sometimes, they lie buried just under the sands of many beaches, just waiting for those lucky few to catch that glimmer of something shiny underfoot.

By Erin Brennan, July 2019

What is stony coral tissue loss disease?

What is stony coral tissue loss disease?

And more important, how do we stop it?

In September 2014, researchers noticed that certain stony corals along the Florida Reef Tract weren’t doing so well. The Florida Reef Tract stretches approximately 360 miles in an arc along the Florida Keys and southeastern Florida. It’s currently the world’s third largest reef.

In Miami-Dade County, of Virginia Key, corals were showing “small circular or irregular patches of white, exposed skeleton devoid of tissue,” explains Dr. Andy Bruckner, research coordinator for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. From there, the tissue would slough off, leaving the stark white skeleton exposed until algae colonized it. The disease, he explains, “radiates across the colony and outward.”

Click the image to watch the sad progression of stony coral tissue disease along Florida’s East Coast.

 

And spread outward it did—the stony coral tissue loss disease has since been found in the Lower Florida Keys.

This spells trouble for the reefs, and for the creatures and people who depend on them. The reefs of the Florida Keys provide food and recreational opportunities for residents and vacationers alike, and they can protect coastal communities since they serve as a buffer for hurricanes and other storms.

Worldwide, coral reefs support approximately 25 percent of all known marine species. Reefs provide homes for more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals.

The architects of coral reefs are hard corals. Unlike soft corals, hard corals have stony skeletons made out of limestone that are produced by coral polyps. When polyps die, their skeletons are left behind and used as foundations for new polyps. An actual coral branch or mound is composed of layer upon layer of skeletons covered by a thin layer of living polyps.

Scientists believe the disease is likely caused by a bacterial infection carried by currents, but little else is known.

As Joanna Walczak, southeast regional administrator at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection puts it, “this is an all hands on deck situation, requiring an unprecedented effort and response.”

Partners from universities, nonprofits, and government agencies have joined the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to understand the disease and how it can be stopped.

What can we do?

To stop the spread of contamination from one dive site to another, experts have a few recommendations for divers/snorkelers and swimmers.

Dos

  • Inspect dive gear equipment and remove any debris between each dive
  • ALWAYS Sanitize non-sensitive gear with a bleach solution
  • For sensitive gear, wash with copious amounts of fresh water
  • Move from “healthiest” site to “dirtiest” site
  • Always decontaminate regulators, gauges and computers
  • Use a reef-healthy sunscreen

Don’ts

  • Never leave any debris on dive/snorkel gear
  • Don’t move from a diseased site to a healthy site
  • Don’t dispose of disinfectant or waste into the ocean or a storm drain

“This collaborative response effort is vitally important,” says Sarah Fangman, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary superintendent. “The broad knowledge provided by all our partners working together has resulted in the development of a variety of interventions.” Together, these partners hope to develop an effective treatment.

Learn more what scientists are doing to learn about stony coral tissue loss.

–Erin

2015 Swimsuit Extras

Welcome to the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 Extras landing page!

Here’s your chance to have the “behind the scenes” experience of the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot. Now you can see some of the processes involved, some of the “inside jokes,” outtakes, and the prep and setup of what goes into a photo shoot. And, we have videos that bring the experience a little closer.

Click on the pictures or link to begin your look behind the scenes of the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot.

Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot. Photo: Sara Vathauer

Click here to see more outtakes from our Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot.

Click here to view the videos from the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot.

 

CREDITS

Producer: Paige Conlan

Photographer: Joey Wright

Assistant to Photographer: Chris Hedlund

Makeup Artist: Michele Winters

Assistant to Producer: Sara Vathauer

Production Assistant: Clayton Therrien

Models: Brittany, Michelle, Ria, and Kasia

Swimsuits provided by
LeTarte, letarteswimwear.com
InGear Swimwear, ingear.com
Plunge Swimwear, iswimx.com
Jets by Jessika Allen, jets.com.au
Sunsets Swimwear, sunsetsinc.com
Swim Systems, swimsystems.com
B Swim, bswim.com
Aerin Rose Swimwear, aerinrose.com
Akuali Swimwear, akuali.com
Jypsea Local, jypsealocal.com

Jewelry provided by
Periwinkle Jewelry by Barlow Design
periwinklebybarlow.com

Sunglasses provided by
Costa Del Mar, costadelmar.com

Sponsored by
Everglades Boats
(386) 409-2202
evergladesboats.com

Special thanks to
 Yacht Works,
Russ Foerkert, Ryan Jacobson,
Mike DeFrancesco

Nautical Flea Markets

Where is the next big nautical flea market?

The words bargain and boat are rarely used in the same sentence, but they come together at some of the best-stocked nautical flea markets in the Southeast in January. The 28th Annual Pompano Nautical Flea Market will be held January 20-21. Event hours are 8AM to 5PM on Saturday and 8AM to 3PM on Sunday. The flea market takes over the Community Park at 820 NE 18th Avenue, Pompano Beach, Florida, which is just north of Fort Lauderdale. Details to register as a vendor or for attendance can be found at nauticalfleamarket.net.

If you find yourself in the Florida Keys in January looking for watery deals, tie up at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce Nautical Flea Market. The market is held Saturday and Sunday, January 12-13 from 8AM to 2PM. All activities will take place at the Chamber grounds at Mile Marker 31, Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key. Nearly 200 vendors will offer everything water related whether it’s boating, fishing or diving. The event includes food and music to make a full day of entertainment.

lowerkeyschamber.com/flea_market.php

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating January 2018

More from the Southeastern Seaboard

Sailfish 400

Jacksonville Boat Show

 

Everglades National Park

Every year thousands of boaters enter Everglades National Park by crossing Florida Bay from the Florida Keys. Effective January 1, 2018, the National Park Service plans
to raise the annual boaters’ fee from $40 to $50 dollars, with a second proposed increase to $60 in October of 2018. The Park Service is also proposing a new boater education program proposed to go into effect January 1, 2018, and applies to all motorboats, canoes and kayaks. The online course teaches boaters about Florida Bay’s shallow-water ecosystem and how it can be damaged by careless vessel operation. The new fees and educational program requirements will apply to all boaters, even those entering into the park across maritime boundaries. Additional information on the proposed changes is
available at nps.gov/ever/index.htm.

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating December 2017

Photos: Hillenrbrand/USFWS and David Hinkel of USFWS

Fostering seamanship with Sea Scouts

It’s never too early to start discussing summer camp options with the kids. Luckily, on the Gulf Coast a great camp option offers boating adventures to kids that make their parents green with envy. The Sea Scouts, a maritime version of the Boy Scouts, have a major facility on the Gulf Coast in Galveston, Texas. Known as Sea bases, these scouting programs are major hands-on educational boating programs for the next generations.

Originally conceived as a camp and high-adventure facility for the Sea Scouts, the Sea Base Galveston on Offatts Bayou has fresh programs and a new facility that was completed in early 2015 with an endowment reported to approach $100 million. The scope of the original project broadened to include a Community Youth Sailing Center and a maritime education facility for merchant mariner students and others. Financed almost entirely by a donation from a private donor who is very active in the Sea Scouting programs, the 60,000-square-foot facility includes lodging, offices, classrooms, and a cafeteria. The structure is adjacent to floating docks and piers and can host 200-300 scouts on a weekly basis.

Home to a fleet of Sonar and FJ sailboats and an 82′ Coast Guard cutter converted to a functioning on-the-water classroom, the Sea base also holds a variety of vessels ranging from kayaks to schooners with the goals of emphasizing sailing instruction, seamanship, navigation, and high adventure. The program draws more than 20,000 scouts a year from throughout the country.

Quite similar to the Sea Base in Galveston, a Sea Scouts’ facility in Islamorada in the Florida Keys also offers high adventure maritime camps with everything from snorkeling and scuba diving to sailing expeditions to exploring a deserted island owned by the organization—all in sunny South Florida.

With many different programs, the Out Island Adventure in the Keys is one of the most irresistible. Sea Scouts are taken to the rustic and undeveloped Big Munson Island for a week of snorkeling and kayaking on coral reefs, all while camping on the beaches. Described as a Survivor for kids but fully supervised, the program urges scouts to carry their own gear and provisions before being led on mini-expeditions to fish the reefs and forage on the island.

Both of the programs in Galveston and the Keys are designed to foster a sense of self-reliance on the water and build lasting memories for these future boaters in a safe and supervised environment. It’s one thing to hear adventure stories from your child as they return from tennis or space camp, but imagine their smiles and tales of courage from living on an island, sailing through a formidable squall line or reeling in dinner that was enjoyed by a campfire. Adventure and freedom is what draws boaters to the water, and the Sea Scouts are an incredible way to ignite or cultivate that passion in your children.

 

By Troy Gilbert, Southern Boating Magazine March 2016

Coral planting in the Florida Keys

On World Oceans Day in June, 70 volunteers with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) attached 1,600 staghorn coral clippings with special glue onto existing coral in the Florida Keys. It was the organization’s most prolific output in a single day. The Plantapalooza aimed to raise awareness of the importance of restoring, preserving and conserving the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Since its inception in 2000, CRF has planted 30,000 corals on upper and middle Keys reefs. coralrestoration.org

Ongoing spruce-up at Boynton Harbor Marina
With the demolition of an old dive shop building, Boynton Beach will create a green space and boardwalk for the public at its marina. “This will create more space for the public,” said Vivian Brooks, redevelopment agency executive director. “We want people to enjoy the area. Right now there is really nowhere to sit and no shade.” A 250-foot boardwalk and new sidewalks will be built by July 2016. Hibiscus plants and 17 coconut trees will also be planted. Boynton Beach’s redevelopment agency has spent nearly $20 million to refurbish Boynton Harbor Marina with a master building, new entryway features and boat slips since its 2005 purchase. catchboynton.com

Keeping tradition alive
Seminole maritime history comes to life twice a month at the Upper Room Art Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Traditional Seminole artist Pedro O. Zepeda uses a chain saw, his adze and other hand tools to carve an indigenous canoe out of cypress. The 200-year-old cypress log he shapes weighs more than a ton, is 19 feet long and was recovered from 2005 Hurricane Wilma. Working on the project since February, Zepeda says the 12.5-foot canoe should be completed this month. “For me, it was a way to maintain the canoe culture for us,” Zepeda says. “It’s always good to share your culture with other people; it lets them know we are still here and still practice our culture.” upperroomartgallery.com

Bridge replaces ferry
A pontoon swing bridge in South Carolina replaced the ferry crossing at Estherville Minim Creek Canal on the ICW (mile 411.5). The bridge closes to marine traffic only when a vehicle needs to cross with yellow flashing lights warning vessels to come to a stop. Wildlife refuge personnel and equipment at Cat Island’s Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center use the bridge only twice daily, if at all, says wildlife director Jamie Dozier. “[The bridge] swings open in about 20 seconds, and we can get everything across and back in 4 or 5 minutes.”

Florida bridge under repair
Work continues at Hillsboro Inlet Bridge (AIWW 1053.9) with completion expected in November. Vertical clearance is reduced by two feet. The north and south side channels are closed to navigation as turbidity barriers are in place and a small barge is behind the fender system. Mariners may request an opening by providing a four-hour advance notice to the bridge tender or by calling (954) 943-1847.

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine, September 2015

Smuggler’s Cove Resort and Marina, Islamorada, FL

Smuggler’s Cove Resort and Marina, a 12-room waterfront boutique hotel and full-service marina in Islamorada, completed a three-month $500,000 property renovation. From fully revamped guest rooms and new food and beverage offerings to a new unique “Hook ‘N’ Cook” experience, Smuggler’s Cove reopened in December 2014 with an enhanced guest experience.

Framed by the turquoise waters of the marina and Atlantic Ocean, all of the hotel’s 12 guest rooms, which include 11 double-bed rooms and one suite, now feature new bedding and furnishings, island-inspired décor, flat screen TVs, Eco Botanics amenities, and a kitchenette complete with a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kitchenware. The hotel’s spacious one-bedroom suite also offers guests a pull-out couch, two closets and a separate bathroom with dual sinks. Additional featured amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi access, daily housekeeping and optional rollaway beds. With just 12 rooms in total, Smuggler’s Cove is ideal for takeover weddings and small-scale corporate retreats.

Open to the public, the hotel also reveals new food and beverage offerings including the Honey Hole, Wheel House and Buoy Bar. This charming Florida Keys setting is ideal for hosting a destination wedding. Additional new food and beverage offerings include room service and complimentary daily breakfast coming soon.

[photomosaic ids=”4712,4713,4714″ orderby=”rand”]

In total, Smuggler’s Cove is home to a full-service 80-slip deep marina that is able to accommodate boats up to 60 feet in length. Forty slips are available at the hotel, Wheel House and Buoy Bar, inclusive of “Charter Row,” which features a daily presentation of the day’s fresh catches from the hotel’s six fishing charters. Just steps from guests’ doors, the hotel also offers an exciting array of outdoor activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, eco tours, and boat rentals. In addition, the hotel will have helicopter rides around the island and provide helicopter charters from Miami to Islamorada for daily excursions. Through an exclusive partnership with renowned Keys’ charter experts the Spaulding family, Smuggler’s Cove provides guests one of the best charter sport fishing experiences in Islamorada with its on-site charter boats featuring live cameras and real-time fishing reports broadcasted directly to the hotel. Located just across the channel from the hotel and restaurants, Smuggler’s Cove Marina has another 40 slips and features the largest deep-water fuel station in Islamorada. Its one-stop ship store provides immediate ocean and bay access carrying live and frozen bait, ice, tackle, food, beverages, and more convenient options.

Contact:
Smuggler’s Cove
85500 Overseas Highway,
Islamorada, FL 33036
(MM 85.5 BAYSIDE) • (305) 664-5564
smugglerscoveislamorada.com

Liz Pasch, Southern Exposure May 2015

Hawks Cay Marina & Villages, Duck Key, FL

For cruisers visiting the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay Marina is the perfect stop.

Located on Duck Key southwest of Key Largo, Hawks Cay Marina features 85 slips in its protected harbor for boats up to 110 LOA. Dockhands will guide and assist with mooring your vessel and fuel stations pump high-octane, non-ethanol gas and marine diesel. The marina also has a boat ramp with trailer parking at $30 a night or $20 for a one-time launch or pickup.

Complimentary shuttle services provide transport to the 60-acre Hawks Cay resort. Overnight guests are welcome to relax at the saltwater lagoon or any of the five swimming pools. Other amusements include a tennis court, spa, fitness center, and retail shops.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, charcoal grills and picnic tables are available so you can prepare your own catch; those wishing to be served can find delicious dining at the nearby Ocean Restaurant. The resort is also home to a coffee club to kick-start your day on the water.

Adventurers will be pleased with all the watersports activities offered at Hawks Cay—kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing, and kiteboarding to name a few. Underwater explorers can try the guided reef and wreck tours, while anglers can charter boats to big-game spots. At the end of the day, relax and unwind on an easygoing sunset cruise.

Hawks Cay also serves as an excellent host location for event, tournaments and boating clubs. Upcoming events include Lobster Mini-Season July 30-31.

Marina Features:

  • 85 slips for boats up to 110 feet
  • Protected harbor
  • Fuel dock with 91 gasoline or marine diesel
  • Boat ramp & overnight trailer parking
  • Dockside market and supply store
  • Shuttle service

Additional Amenities:

  • Resort with restaurants, pools, lagoon, spa, fitness center, tennis court, coffee club
  • Fishing charters
  • Watersport rental services (kayak, jet ski, boat, parasail and kite boarding)
  • SCUBA certification and tours
  • Sunset cruises

Information:

Hawks Cay Marina
61 Hawks Cay Boulevard
Duck Key, FL 33050
USA: (877) 496-6023
International: 001 305 743-7000
hawkscay.com

By Daniel Wagner, Southern Exposure

2015 Swimsuit Extras

Welcome to the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 Extras landing page!

Here’s your chance to have the “behind the scenes” experience of the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot. Now you can see some of the processes involved, some of the “inside jokes,” outtakes, and the prep and setup of what goes into a photo shoot. And, we have videos that bring the experience a little closer.

Click on the pictures or link to begin your look behind the scenes of the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot.

Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot. Photo: Sara Vathauer

Click here to see more outtakes from our Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot.

 

 

Click here to view the videos from the Southern Boating Swimsuit 2015 photo shoot.

 

CREDITS

Producer: Paige Conlan

Photographer: Joey Wright

Assistant to Photographer: Chris Hedlund

Makeup Artist: Michele Winters

Assistant to Producer: Sara Vathauer

Production Assistant: Clayton Therrien

Models: Brittany, Michelle, Ria, and Kasia

Swimsuits provided by
LeTarte, letarteswimwear.com
InGear Swimwear, ingear.com
Plunge Swimwear, iswimx.com
Jets by Jessika Allen, jets.com.au
Sunsets Swimwear, sunsetsinc.com
Swim Systems, swimsystems.com
B Swim, bswim.com
Aerin Rose Swimwear, aerinrose.com
Akuali Swimwear, akuali.com
Jypsea Local, jypsealocal.com

Jewelry provided by
Periwinkle Jewelry by Barlow Design
periwinklebybarlow.com

Sunglasses provided by
Costa Del Mar, costadelmar.com

Sponsored by
Everglades Boats
(386) 409-2202
evergladesboats.com

Special thanks to Yacht Works,
Russ Foerkert, Ryan Jacobson,
Mike DeFrancesco

Upgrades in the Carolinas

New owners purchased the historic River Forest Manor and Marina in Belhaven, North Carolina, in October with renovations in mind. Most of the new owners are cruisers and members of the River Rat and Belhaven Yacht Clubs. All docking facilities will be fully operational during improvements. Visitors will find new bathrooms with showers, marina office and free laundry facilities upon completion. Services already available include diesel and non-ethanol 89 octane gas, 30-, 50- and 100-amp electrical services, Wi-Fi, golf carts, deep water transient slips, and a swimming pool. Belhaven is the birthplace of the Intracoastal Waterway and boasts of several popular eateries. riverforestmarina.com, riverratyachtclub.com, belhavenyachtclub.org

Fernandina Beach, Florida, has been called the “birthplace of the modern shrimping industry.” In 1902, Sicilian Mike Salvador introduced motorized boats to the industry, and generations of the Greek Deonas family helped establish what was the largest shrimping industry in the world for decades. Although tourism now replaces shrimping, Amelia Island remembers its past with a new satellite museum of the Amelia Island Museum of History in Fernandina Beach. Hours are 10AM to 4PM Monday through Saturday, and 1PM to 4PM on Sundays. ameliamuseum.org

After Georgetown, South Carolina’s devastating fire in 2013, debris was cleared and Harborwalk was rebuilt, but little else has taken place due to new construction standards and lack of funds. After some controversy, however, in November 2014 the city applied for a Community Development Block Grant funding for business development purposes. Hopes are that the waterfront will return to its former glory this year.

[photomosaic ids=”6018,6019,6020,6021″ orderby=”rand”]

Cruisers to St. Augustine, Florida, now have a shuttle bus service. The first of three bus routes takes visitors to St. Augustine Municipal Marina and other nearby marinas, Sailors Exchange, West Marine, and other businesses. Two other daytime runs stop at marinas, uptown St. Augustine, the Vilano Pier, Publix, restaurants, offices, and attractions. Evening routes accommodate area dining and entertainment. Updates are available at the St. Augustine Cruisers Net Facebook page. Schedule is available at waterwayguide.com/images/St-Augustine-Shuttle-SCHEDULE.pdf.

An official dog park now adjoins the Vero Beach Municipal Marina in Vero Beach, Florida. The 6.5-acre field is completely fenced in with separate areas for big and little dogs. Private donations and volunteer grunt work made the park with its water fountain, bowls and a safety entryway possible. Seadogs and their masters may access the park with dinghies.

The Miami International Boat Show is headed to Miami Marine Stadium in 2016 and 2017, and possibly into the future. A $30 million renovation is in store for the battered Miami Marine Stadium that closed after 1992 Hurricane Andrew. Changes include replacing asphalt with grass and trees, as well as building a modest marine-exhibit building. The boat show will occupy existing parking lots, temporary structures and a small portion of its water basin with little interference to local rowers and paddlers.

Free pump-outs in the Florida Keys may end in 2017. Monroe County is losing substantial financial support from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The county’s proof of pump-out requirement in larger live-aboard anchorages helps protect Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating March 2015

North Carolina’s coast reveals World War II battlefield

A team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered a World War II (WWII) German U-boat and a freighter in August 2014 off the coast of North Carolina. Unseen for over 70 years, the German U-576 was sunk in 1942 by aircraft fire after it damaged two boats and downed American merchant ship Bluefields. According to NOAA maritime archeologist Joe Hart, the location is “a WWII battlefield that’s literally right in our back yard.” The two vessels lay only a few hundred yards apart and highlight a time when 90 vessels sank off of the Atlantic coast during World War II. A war grave, the U-boat seals 45 deceased German sailors within. Still owned by the German government, it is protected by the U.S. at Germany’s request.

Southport, North Carolina, welcomes transients with extended time at their city dock. Visiting boats may now stay 48 hours, not just 24, permitting more time for provisioning and exploration. Check-in at the police station the Southport Marina. The marina gives free weather and navigation briefings at 6:00PM during fall and spring migrations. southport-nc.com

The new Customs entryway at the Marathon, Florida, airport is delayed. Renovations began in late fall 2014 and completion is expected in spring 2015. Law enforcement will meet mariners entering the U.S. from international waters at local docks and await the arrival of an airport Customs agent.

[photomosaic ids=”5809,5810″]

The Miami-Dade County Mayor wants three coastal cities and the City of Miami to share fireboats and crews. The use of land-based fire crews to staff boats may have created longer response times to a disastrous boating accident, which left four dead last summer. County boats would serve the northern and southern reaches of Biscayne Bay, and Miami would use its boat in the downtown area.

Faro Blanco Marina Resort in Marathon, Florida, opened its new docks last month following repairs from 2005 Hurricane Wilma to make Marathon a Florida Keys yachting destination. Faro Blanco Resort was a ‘70s and ‘80s icon. Its beloved white lighthouse still guides mariners into the harbor, but a new Hyatt Place hotel with two pools, waterside restaurants and a fitness center replaces original structures. The new state-of-the-art 74-slip Faro Blanco Marina & Yacht Club accommodates megayachts and offers extensive amenities. Fishing, dolphin watching and the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center provide local diversions, and rental cars at the Marathon Airport are just 10 minutes away. faroblancoresort.com

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating January 2015

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing University

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing University

Ladies fishing tournaments are plentiful and popular and bring everyone into the excitement of tournament fishing. But a Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing University is a bit different.

They provide a unique opportunity for female anglers to team up with professional fishing experts for dedicated fishing instruction. Ladies can experience one-on-one access to award-winning fishing captains in the prime fishing grounds around Florida.

From Betty Bauman, the event founder: “The main events start out with a Friday evening social so we can recognize the sponsors, and the ladies get a chance to meet the others. Saturday mornings are the sit-down classes, which are very heavily laden with conservation because the best time to learn conservation is when an angler is new and impressionable. And then we serve lunch. After lunch we have hands-on fishing techniques, for instance, I show stand up fighting techniques.

We have tables for knot tying, lure usage, lure rigging, other fishing skills, sometimes we have how to handle the dock lines; they’re all a little bit different. And then we have spin-casting, net-casting, fly-casting, boat-handling trailer, backing, and landing, we have them gaff grapefruits. On Sunday we have the optional charter fishing, we give them choices, sometimes it’s the choice of a drift boat, a sport fishing boat or an inshore boat depending on the area that they’re in—different parts of the states have a different kind of fishing.”

Tavernier on Key Largo is the site October 19-21 where more than seven hours of inshore and off‑shore instruction on bait, equipment, technique, timing, and species knowledge will be held on Saturday with all day fishing fun on Sunday. Sign up early because past attendees typically return year after year to relive the fun and excitement.

ladiesletsgofishing.com

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating September 2018

More from the Southeast Seaboard:

Pirate Parties

3rd Annual Cheeca Lodge Backcountry Fishing Tournament

November 13th-15th marks the 3rd Annual Cheeca Lodge Backcountry Fishing Tournament at mile marker 82 on Islamorada’s Oceanside. This prestigious fishing event lures anglers from around the world to compete for individual and team prizes for the release of snook, redfish, bonefish, tarpon, and permit with tackle divisions that include fly, artificial and general. The fishing headquarters is World Wide Sportsman, just half a mile from Cheeca Lodge & Spa.

This tournament’s new format hosts a Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party November 13th in the Sunrise Ballroom and Terrace at 5:30PM with the rules meeting at 7:00PM mandatory for all guides. The tournament begins the 14th with an extravagant All-American BBQ on Cheeca’s beach, and an awards ceremony and banquet on the 15th to conclude the event. “This new format allows our guides to get home early on Saturday evening, and allows our anglers to have a full day Sunday to relax or travel home,” says Tournament Director Julie Olsen.

 

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The entry fee of $2,000 per angler includes entry into each of the three social events for the individual, a guest, and the angler’s guide and guest, plus breakfast and lunch each day. The event’s goal is to raise funds for the locally based Guides Trust Foundation, which assists Florida Keys fishing guides and awards scholarships to local students. For information or donation forms, visit guidestrustfoundation.org. Contact Julie Olsen for questions or entry forms. (305) 517-4449; jolsen@cheeca.com; cheeca.com/all-american

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Boating October 2014

Karrie Webb

This LPGA hall-of-famer trades her golf clubs for fishing poles in the off-season to play on a different kind of course…one that leads to monster fish aboard her 32-foot Intrepid.

Karrie Webb is recognized as one of the greatest female golfers of all time. The world’s fifth-ranked female player holds the record for most Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour victories with an impressive 41 major titles. When Webb won the Women’s British Open in 2002, she became the first player in LPGA history to achieve the “Super Career Grand Slam” by winning all five majors, including the du Maurier, which is no longer held. In just the last six months, Webb kicked off the season by winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February and the JTBC Founder’s Cup in March.

Webb’s grandparents introduced her to golf, and she was inspired to pursue it as a career after she watched Greg Norman play the Queensland Open in 1986. “I would go out with my grandparents every Saturday morning with plastic clubs, but by the time I was seven years old I was too strong and kept breaking them. My grandparents promised they would get me a set of golf clubs for my eighth birthday so that was my official start in golf,” says Webb. That was in the early 1980s, the same time Greg Norman was becoming known as the best player in the world. “When I was 11 years old I told my parents I was going to be a professional golfer when I grew up, and I never wanted to do anything else.”

Webb’s parents and grandparents also inspired her love for boating and most of all, fishing. “I grew up along the coastline of Australia near the Great Barrier Reef. I did some deep-sea fishing with my family, but we mainly stuck to backwater creek fishing. My parents and grandparents had a ‘creek hut’ on a sandy out-crop at the mouth of a large creek with the Pacific Ocean on the other side. We could only get there by boat and we spent all our free time there,” reminisces Webb, the eldest of three girls. “Until I was 12 or 13 years old, I was kind of like my dad’s little boy. Wherever he wanted to go, I wanted to go—and he really loved fishing—so all my memories of hanging out with him on the water are my favorite fishing stories. He instilled a true passion for boating in me.”

Years later Webb moved to Orlando, Florida, but soon realized she couldn’t be away from the coast so she moved to Boynton Beach, where Ayr Waves II found its home on her boatlift. “In ’06, I had a really good year on the tour, so my Intrepid 32 was my reward, and I still love it. If I ever get another boat, I’ll get another Intrepid. Being on my boat is definitely my main hobby when I’m not on the course. I’m pretty fair-weather when it comes to fishing, but even if it’s really windy I don’t mind cruising along the Intracoastal—and I don’t think about golf at all while I’m out there,” says Webb, who taught herself the prep work required for fishing. “Since my dad would always help me, I could bait my hook but that was about it. I wanted to learn all the techniques and be able to do everything, so now I feel like a true angler.”

Like most fishermen and women, Webb says her dream day fishing is a day filled with catching with a fish fry at the end of it. “There is a lot of work that goes into deep-sea fishing, so it’s definitely more enjoyable when I can stand on the dock and filet a big catch. Since my hands are a pretty important part of my career I filet my fish a little slower than others, but I still filet them alongside everyone else.”

Webb primarily fishes off the coast of South Florida but has taken Ayr Waves II to the Florida Keys a few times. “I’ve gone down to the Keys for lobster miniseason a few times and since I’m competitive, chasing a lobster to get it in my bag becomes a mission. I don’t dive as much as I fish, but it is another activity on my list of things to do more often once my schedule slows down. The last 10 years, the British Open has been scheduled for the same week as mini season.”

As a professional athlete, Webb enjoys the thrill of the game…big game fish, that is. “I’ve never caught a tarpon, so that’s definitely on my list of dream catches, along with all the great game fish. I’ve caught a big dolphin and a white marlin off of Boynton inlet, but I’ve never caught a sailfish. I also want to make it to The Bahamas when the tuna are running.” Webb says many other choice catches are where she grew up near the Great Barrier Reef and insists they are some of the best-tasting fish in the world—coral trout is her favorite and she also enjoys barramundi, a relative to snook that is just as tasty and highly regulated.

As much as Webb would like to make more time for boating and fishing, her sights are set on June 2016—the qualifier for the Summer Olympics. “I’ve accomplished so much in golf, so goal setting has been really hard in the last few years except for trying to win golf tournaments. So when it was announced that golf could be in the 2016 Summer Olympics for the first time since 1904, that became my goal.”

Webb turns 40 this year to round out a remarkable 18-year professional career. Once the 2016 Olympics are over she will consider taking more time off the course. “I’ve only made one trip across to The Bahamas, but I want to do a lot more of that. It’s hard to find the time right now because the best time of year to go is the summer, which is my busiest season with golf, but The Bahamas is my biggest bucket list item,” says Webb, who adds that she also wants to charter a crewed catamaran and cruise the Virgin Islands. “When I start to wind down my professional career and have more time, I will fill it with anything that has to do with being on a boat.”

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Boating July 2014

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