Left to Right: Gary Smith, Captain Steve Skevington and Dennis Macalister holding a 25-inch Red Grouper caught in “Paradise.”
APtravelnews–July 22, Marina at Cape Haze Englewood, FL.–Barb and I, along with friends and business associates from Click-It Hot Use It Cold, had a bus-mans holiday after the ICAST, Giant fishing show in Orlando, FL. The grouper, lane snapper and very large grunts bit sardines and cut grunts, like rabid squirrels. We released, between 5 of us fishing; more than 75 fish, most under size slots, but the group of us took home a fine assortment of legal fillets to prepare and eat at our respective homes. The real story here is the very capable Captain Steve, who with his mate Deone, made it all worthwhile and an enjoyable experience. We spotted dolphin and curious giant sea turtles, Frigate birds circled, and flying fish glided by too! The Cape Haze Marina was clean, loaded with snook that took the cuttings at the cleaning table and gained weight and length-they were beautiful! An alligator also partook in the cleaning table carcasses after Steve sliced and diced with his electric filet knife. Go fish with very knowledgeable and friendly Captain Steve on the Paradise, by going to the booking number of941-575-3528and check out www.paradisefishingcharters.com Rods will bend on the 35-foot charter craft called “Paradise.”
A fine example of one of the more than a dozen Lane Snapper we caught. Very delicate and tasty member of the snapper family!
The rocks held a fine kettle of lane snapper, grunts and porgies!
Gorgeous grouper surprised us in Paradise, all day long!Slicing and dicing through filet after filet!
Barb offshore with Kingfisher Fleet and mate, Matt holds one of the 15-grouper caught and released by Barb!
APtravelnews-Dec. 20th, Punta Gorda, FL.-Offshore in the Gulf of Mexico–It was a laid back day and the seas were laid down too! Mostly calm with a 3-foot following sea as we headed out from Port Charlotte towards where concentrations of ground fish held among rocks and bottom cover. Our quest: catch em up and release the ones out of season (grouper) but take some porgies and Key West large grunt and a snapper or two for dinner for our group. Successful by end of day, yes and yes! The Captain and Mate performed their jobs perfectly! The Captain found the fish, the mate assisted us all in uhooking, baiting the hook with shrimp and cut fish, we Barb, yours truly and Bob Nesoff, writer from New Jersey pulled on some fiesty fins that of course in no way wanted to visit with us, topside. We got a workout, pulling and reeling them in. Yes, it was great fun for us all! None of the fish that shouldn’t have been kept were and they all scampered back to their bottom homes with only a tiny hole in their lips, much less damage than a gal or guy with a piercing in their tongue, lip or elsewhere, unmentionable! Take a fishing trip or excursion with the King Fisher Fleet. For info.: www.kingfisherfleet.com located at the Marina at Fishermen’s Village on Punta Gorda. Stay tuned-next up will be our fabulous adventure at the 90-thousand acre, Babcock Wilderness!
A Remora fish. It has a suction-cup head and it sticks by “vacuum” to larger fish and travel with their hosts picking off the crumbs of the larger fishes (sharks, marlin, etc.) meals. A very interesting specialized fish!Looks a bit rough, but it wasn’t this time! Just nature turbo-charged at its best!
APtravelnews- August 13th, the following events are coming up starting in September. This is from:The Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE…
Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest (September 19-September 21, 2014) Enjoy three days of authentic German entertainment and cuisine at the Delaware Saengerbund in Newark, Delaware, just minutes south of the city of Wilmington. Continuous entertainment including performances by a Bavarian dance group dressed in traditional costumes and live music plus an awesome selection of food and beverages make this ethnic celebration very special. For more information, call 302-366-9454 or go to www.visitwilmingtonde.com.
Taste of Newark (September 28, 2014) This annual culinary festival is held on the picturesque Old College Lawn on the University of Delaware’s Main Campus in Newark, Delaware from 12 Noon to 3 PM. Fifty of the area’s finest restaurants will be joined by more than 30 wine and beer distributors. For more information, go to www.enjoydowntownnewark.com/events.
Rivertowns Ride & Festival (October 4, 2014) This one-day community festival and cycling event is held simultaneously in two of Delaware’s waterfront towns: Delaware City and Historic New Castle. The 10-mile cycling event along the Route 9 corridor which connects the two towns attracts both competitive cyclists and recreational bikers. Cycling time trials start at 11 AM from Historic New Castle to Delaware City and the recreational bike rides begin at 12 Noon. Both towns host simultaneous family festivals and craft beer festivals. For more information, go to www.rivertownsfestival.com
Vendemmia Wine Festival (October 12, 2014; Rain Date is October 19, 2014) This festival is Wilmington’s biggest fall party. Over 3,000 wine enthusiasts gather in Tubman-Garrett Park on the Wilmington Riverfront to celebrate the Harvest of the Grapes. From 2 PM to 6 PM, sample fine wines from every region in Italy and delicacies prepared by 25 of the area’s best restaurants and bakeries. Festivities include live music by four bands, homemade wine and gravy contests and a silent auction. For more information, go to www.societadavinci.com orwww.visitwilmingtonde.com.
Chrysanthemum Festival (October 25-November 23, 2014) Chrysanthemums take center stage at Longwood Gardens. More than 200,000 blooming chrysanthemums are arranged in amazing configurations inside Longwood’s four-acre indoor Conservatory. Of particular note is the magnificent Thousand Bloom Mum with more than 1,100 perfect yellow blooms. Outside, chrysanthemums, gourds and giant pumpkins decorate the grounds. For more information, go towww.longwoodgardens.org or www.visitwilmingtonde.com.
Wilmington Beer Week (November 1-November 8, 2014) This weeklong celebration of craft beer features Greater Wilmington’s premier craft beer restaurants. Special events include prix-fixe menus, tap takeovers, opportunities to meet the brewers and firkin parties. For more information, go towww.wilmingtonbeerweek.com.
Fringe Festival: Live (November 19-November 23, 2014) This five-day celebration of unconventional and experimental art returns with a twist; the festival will be staged three times during the year starting in November and returning in February and May. Live Fringe, the November segment, showcases edgy performances by local regional and national artists and features improvisation, dance, comedy, clown, magic, drama and musical theatre in a variety of venues throughout Wilmington. For more information go to www.fringede.org.
Bob and Barb “On The Road Again” in Delaware this weekend!
