An Excerpt from The Book: “A Fishing History of the Keys.”

“A Florida Keys Fishy History of the Denizens of The Deep”

**Curt Gowdy and President Bush out fishing with Bob Epstein (Credit Bob T. Epstein for image)**

American Press Travel News–March 1st, The following is a short excerpt from Bob’s book: “A History of Fishing in the Florida Keys.” –From all corners of the earth, tourist visitors make pilgrimages to the Florida Keys to fish, and it’s no wonder, with more than 600 fish varieties in Florida waters, most of which are caught in the waters between Miami and the 150-miles down to Key West. And according to the writings of Zane Grey, a fabulous outdoor writer, and world famous angler, the waters between Indian Key and Bahia Honda Harbor were the very best in the world (as he wrote in the 1920’s). So, along with locals, and Americans from all over the U.S.A. who come to duel with offshore fish such as swordfish, marlin, sailfish, mackerel, tuna, wahoo, dolphin fish (Mahi Mahi), and a large assortment of other deep -sea fishes, the Keys is most noted for, it stands to reason that the real magnet drawing all to these boney islands, are these underwater finned residents of the Keys! Ask anyone about the Florida Keys, most responses would be about fishing, Key Lime pie-sort of the “apple pie & mom” of South Florida’s special nature, is what is thought of first.
Inshore, there is an entire hierarchy of fish-royalty, from the bonefish, tarpon, permit, the triage of the perfecta, to the snook, seatrout, red drum, and mangrove snapper, that today, as in the past hundred years, attract anglers to both shore, and canoe-fish as well as hiring hundreds of fishing guides and their skiffs, in pursuit of these fish for picture-trophy, and the plate as well. Today, with 43-bridges that connect each of the Keys Islands bridge fishing is also a great draw for anglers without boats, to bring their families and friends to go out to sea without ever getting their sneakers wet and still catch fish too!

Snook To Close in Gulf State and Federal Waters

AmericanPressTravelNews-April 29th, New Release–Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Snook will close to all harvest in Gulf state, federal and inland waters, including all of Monroe County and Everglades National Park, starting May 1. Seasonal harvest closures conserve Florida’s valuable snook populations and help sustain and improve the fishery for the future.

Snook is open to harvest in Atlantic state, federal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, through May 31, closing June 1.Both the Atlantic and Gulf will reopen for recreational snook harvest Sept. 1.

Snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World. While snook may be caught and released during the closed season, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages anglers to handle their catch carefully to help the fish survive upon release. Proper handling methods can help ensure the species’ abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about fish handling, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Fish Handling.”

Anglers can report their catch on the Snook & Gamefish Foundation’s website at SnookFoundation.org by clicking on the “Angler Action Program” link in the bar at the top of the page.

Learn more about recreational fishing at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater Fishing” and “Recreational Regulations.”

What is An Estuary? In Port Charlotte Waters Near the Bay are Called Estuarian

AmericanPressTravelNews-Feb. 25th-Port Charlotte, FL-Bob and Barb “Stopping to Smell the Roses and the Gulf of Mexico.” The waters of Charlotte Harbor are called an “Estuary.” Quiet waters that provide habitat for unknown number of creatures. So many sea birds, crustaceans, fish, mammals, a million kind of invertebrates, water plants make their home and living in estuaries. The only dangers estuaries in the short-run face is man. When indigenous native Americans were the only human inhabitants, estuaries were relatively safe-havens for most living things, water quality and plants. Estuaries were balanced by these peoples not appreciably changing water-quality, they took what they could eat and use and left these habitats relatively untouched they lived and let live in the lands and waters. In early articles and books written in the 1800’s, the description of the amount of shore-birds, fish, crustaceans reaching to unimaginable numbers and varieties that today with the amount of human so-called modern encroachment and amending of the channels, shorelines and water depths as in dredging, the wholesale netting and trapping, of crustacean and fish stocks, fuel and oils in the waters, boat propellers gouging out runs through the underwater fabric of the estuary and so many more intrusions and disruptions of the natural flows of these natural places.

**Sea trout a favorite fish of millions! They can be found in estuarian waters.**

**A model Florida Crawfish aka, lobster. They live in a Florida estuary. But, just a bit smaller.**

**Snook live in estuaries!!! Best fish to eat. They taste great and eat only live things, so they are a healthful fish to enjoy!**

Captain Key Largo, Brian Epstein Takes You Deep or Shallow!

**Brian Epstein holds his friends sailfish. Brian (related to long gone Beatles Manager) is as effective in finding fish as his namesake was in finding great Worldwide Talent!!**

AmericanPressTravelNews-Feb 20th, Key Largo, Florida–Captain Key Largo, Brian Epstein grew up in the Florida Keys, more on a boat than in our waterfront home in Tavernier, FL. From a very early age, he had already caught nearly all gamefish you can name that swim the shallows, the reefs, and the very pelagic Gulf Stream. Brian, now married to his wonderful Diane, a Pediatric Emergency Room Nurse, now also teacher, loves the Keys and all wild waters of the world. After many years of Brian working in the steel business, Brian’s passion for fishing could not be cooled in any way. So, his dad (yours truly) and brother have encouraged him to do what he likes best, and has driven so many friends, relatives and business associates to wanting Brian to take them fishing. No kidding, Brian has had virtually no skunked days taking anyone looking for. and fighting the “fins.”

Brian is a genius at figuring out where the lum-lunkers lurk, day or night! Brian is a real “fish-whisperer.” I know you may say, that as I am his dad, I am over-blowing his expertise in finding and putting anyone in his boat on fish? No! He learned from many of the best anglers in the world, and I will not brag on him, and name names because you may think I’m positively prejudiced in his favor, you’d be wrong, I just know the facts, and tell you if you want to catch and keep a few for dinner or release, use a fly rod or any rod-even a handline, Brian is absolute expert. He learned to talk and tell the tides and moon cycles, he finds snook, tarpon and reds, trout, bones and permit, sharks and wahoo, sails and white & blue marlin, dolphin and tuna and many believe he can out-fish anyone in the Keys (how about giant grouper and snapper too). Brian caught his first big blue marlin on no kidding, 20-pound test on an older model Shakespeare, spinning rod outfit with lots of Lithium reel grease. We chased the fish and finally released a 250-plus pounder, after running my Mako for two hours. Captain Skip Bradeen out of Chesapeake Marina, witnessed the fight (he offered to get us a Captains Mount, which Brian refused) Brian was 9-years old and wouldn’t let me touch that rod. Probably would have been a record for a 9-year old on twenty pound test. When I asked Brian what he wanted to do, should I gaff or break the fish off. Brian said: “Pop, I would never kill that fish, it was a great fight, I’ll always remember today.” He has, and now he will be introducing anglers from around the world to the “world class fishing” that the Keys and South Florida is so well known for!!Call him anytime: 954-326-7360 WWW.CaptainKeyLargo.com Promise; outdoor adventures with Brian at the helm, offers lifetime memories!!!