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Rudderham's Captain's Comments
Forget the snow, go on a warm weather vacation
This winter has been one for the books, what with
rain, cold, and snow, maybe you are looking for a warm place to go
that has different scenery and a new experience. Steinbeck cruised
here in 1941, resting after the publication of his masterpiece “The
Grapes of Wrath.” He said of this area, “The sky sucks up the land
and disgorges it. A dream hangs over the whole region, a brooding
kind of hallucination.” We are talking about the Sea of Cortez. It’s
the body of water that separates mainland Mexico from the 700-mile
long Baja Peninsula, also known as the Gulf of California. Now this
area is served by “The Moorings,” the world famous charter service.
They are based in La Paz (City of Peace), a clean, attractive, and
American friendly city which you can fly into on Delta.
Two or three couples or a family can charter a 47’
Power Cat that The Moorings will have ready for you when you arrive
dockside. Provisions of your choice will be aboard. All you have to
do is cruise, catch fish, and enjoy the warm climate. Contact The
Moorings at 888- 952-8420 or
www.moorings.com.
You’ll be surprised at how reasonable charter prices are.
First full moon in May
Another vacation, especially if you like to fish, is
to travel down to Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande pass which is
one of the entrances to Charlotte Harbor. The first full moon in May
is when the fishing is best for Tarpon and it last through the end
of June.
Fishing in the pass is a bit frenzied. Picture if you
will a Wal-Mart parking lot on sale day only all the cars are boats
with three lines out (the maximum allowed) and when a boat hooks up
they pull out of the pack to fight the fish. After releasing the
fish they retake a place in the fleet without disturbing other boats
and fishermen.
If you seriously want to get involved in catching
Tarpon you need to make your reservations early, as it gets crowded
quickly. I would advise hiring a guide. You will catch more fish and
learn more about the area. Contact the Boca Grande Chamber of
Commerce 941-964-0375.
Accommodations aren’t cheap, but there is a way to
beat that; bare boat charter a yacht from Southwest Florida Yachts.
They have excellent rates that would be lower than motel rooms for a
week. Contact Southwest Florida Yachts at 800-262-7939 or e-mail
info@swfyachts.com. You
could moor the boat at Cabbage Key and have your guide pick you up
there, as it is just around the corner of the pass on the I.C.W.
Contact Cabbage Key at 239-283-2278 for more information.
If you like to eat fresh seafood this is where you
will find some of the best. You will find this to be one of your
most memorable family vacations and will probably find yourself
going back again and again. If anyone asks you where you heard about
it, tell them you read it in the Lakeside. If you go, send us a
photo of your fish. Catching large Tarpon, 100-175 pounds plus is
contagious. After you have caught one you want to catch a bigger
one.
I like to see a braggard fisherman hook into one and
be absolutely speechless when it jumps close to the boat. I’ve even
been known to back off the star drag to make the fight longer. What
is bad is when your wife or daughter catches one bigger or more of
them. I’ll guarantee you will hear that fish story more times than
you want to, that is until you beat them. It’s great sport for the
whole family, so make your plans and have some exciting fishing fun.
Fuel lines need inspection
Since the addition of ethanol to our fuel at most
marine fueling locations, it has become even more important due to
the fact that ethanol will deteriorate some fuel lines and fuel
tanks if they are fiberglass in older boats. Check your boat’s
manufacturer to see if your boat has a tank that will degrade
resins, if so, the tanks will need replacement. Some fuel lines will
also deteriorate when exposed to ethanol so when replacing fuel
lines make sure it’s the type that will not deteriorate.
When checking your fuel line, also check the filler
and vent hoses. Critters and bugs can build nests in vent systems
which will eventually cause serious problems. It is also recommended
to have an inline water separator – some experts say two of them.
The reason: ethanol acts like a cleaner and will emulsify all the
dirt and crud in the bottom of your tank and pass it through to your
engine’s fuel delivery system and possibly cause serious and
expensive damage. So having water separators and inspecting them
frequently should eliminate problems. Of course faulty fuel systems
can lead to explosions or a fire. BoatU.S. ranks fires and
explosions fourth in insurance claims right behind hurricane damage,
striking submerged objects, and sinking. So inspect your fuel
system, make corrections where needed. Always use your blower and
ventilate your bilge before starting, and you won’t be an insurance
statistic.
First aid
One thing we all know about, we think, until it’s
time to use it and that’s first aid and CPR. Learning first aid and
CPR is a must if you are an avid boater. Whether you fish, wake
board, water-ski, or just cruise, eventually someone will need
attention and fast. There’s no more helpless feeling than to have an
emergency on your boat and not know what to do. What you do in those
first few minutes could save a life. You might stop bleeding, or
perform CPR and bring someone back to life. But you have to know
what and how to do it. You don’t have time to read about it when the
need happens. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S.
Power Squadrons or go on line to see when The American Red Cross has
classes. Every family should take the classes, or if they have taken
one a refresher course wouldn’t hurt, as there are always new
techniques to learn.
Also check your on board first aid kit or buy a new
one for the upcoming season. Like the Boy Scout motto says, “Be
prepared.”
Be courteous,
practice safe boating and I’ll see you on the water. Mike Rudderham is a veteran marine
surveyor with more than 40 years experience in the marine industry.
mike@lakesidenews.com
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