This blog is dedicated to the environmental well-being of our Florida coastal habitat.

This blog is
dedicated to the environmental well-being of coastal habitat.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Fishing at Rod & Reel Pier

There were so many "bait fish" swimming around Rod and Reel Pier
on Anna Maria Island
that fishermen on the pier
had no luck catching anything larger
with rod and reel.
Fishing with a cast net for bait was simple.Pelicans didn't have to dive.
They just sat on top of the water to catch a meal.
Locals laughed and said that early in the morning
is the time to fish, not high noon.
Snapper, red fish, drum, snook and mackeral are abundant.

Give sea turtles a chance

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100728/OPINION/7281029/2198/OPINION?Title=Give-sea-turtles-a-chance
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Sarasota County unsure of plans to take sand from keys for beaches

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100728/ARTICLE/7281046/2416/NEWS?Title=Sarasota-County-unsure-of-plans-to-take-sand-from-keys-for-beaches
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Monday, July 26, 2010

Appearance of oil on Florida beaches diminished

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100726/GREEN/100726031/1075/Appearance-of-oil-on-Florida-beaches-diminished
- Ft. Myers News-Press

Beach morning glories

These morning glory vines run all over the dunes
south of Sarasota's Turtle Beach.
They are not in bloom in the July heat.
"Beach Morning Glory or Goat's Foot is a common tropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is one of the most common and most widely distributed salt tolerant plants and provides one of the best known examples of oceanic dispersal. Its seeds float and are unaffected by salt water."

"The sprawling runners spread out from the woody rootstock but the large 2-lobed leaves are sparse and a dense cover on the sand is rarely achieved except in protected situations. This plant is a primary sand stabilizer being one of the first plants to colonise the dune. It grows on almost all parts of the dune but is usually found on the seaward slopes sending long runnersspinifex grass and is a useful sand binder thriving under conditions of sand blast and salt spray." - Wikipedia.com

Sunday, July 25, 2010

School of fish

A moving spot of rippling water
may indicate a school of fish underneath.
Seen from east City Island Park viewing platform
on Sarasota Bay

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Freshly hatched Black Snails

Thousands of black snails adorned the shore at the
east tip of Sarasota's City Island last weekend.
They were less than 1/2 inch long and must have been freshly hatched.
These saltwater snails were also seen in mass at the same place
at this time last year.
Can you identify them?

Unleashing river to fight oil causes massive oyster kills

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100724/ARTICLES/100729582/1211?Title=Unleashing-river-to-fight-oil-causes-massive-oyster-kills
- Huoma Today

Sand accumulates near Islander groins

http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/News/072120107243/Sand-accumulates-near-Islander-groins?page=2
- Longboat Key Observer

Note how close the Islander Club is to the beach in comparison with other structures:
http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-jHGinrUb
(The Club is not where the star is on this map. It is the two Y-shaped structures on the beach northwest of the star.)

Overfishing the big four

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100724/ARTICLE/7241023/2072/FEATURES?Title=Overfishing-the-big-four
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Beach questions from Wilmington, NC !

http://www.myreporter.com/?p=7235
Starnews.com

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Smithsonian holdings may show oil's impact in Gulf

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100721/FEATURES12/100729870/1292?Title=Smithsonian-holdings-may-show-oil-s-impact-in-Gulf
- Houma Today

(We wonder if they have any green shrimp.)

Sarasota County Seagrass Survey



Sea Oats in Season

"Uniola paniculata, or Sea oats, is a species of grass that grows along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast of the United States, Mexico and on islands in the Caribbean. Sea oats are well suited to saline environments, and as such, are important to barrier islandecology and are often used in soil stabilization projects because their long root structure firmly holds loose soil.

Sea oats are a protected grass in most states along the East Coast. Recently, Floridian ornithologists discovered that the pygmy burrowing owl makes its nest within sea oat colonies to conceal its young from natural predators such as the frigate. Picking or disturbing sea oats is punishable by fine in Georgia and Florida." - Wikepedia.com


The oats are a crucial component of hurricane defense strategy. The plants below are in "flowering season" on Longboat Key beaches.

Stimulus money funds New Hanover County oyster rehabilitation

http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12843145
- WECT News (Wilmington)

Protection, piece-by-piece 30-year effort secures land around lagoon

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/southeast-volusia/2010/07/19/piece-by-piece-protection.html
- Daytona Beach News Journal Online

Committee: 6 1/2 miles of manatee wake zones in Flagler excessive

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/flagler/2010/07/20/committee-65-miles-of-manatee-wake-zones-in-flagler-excessive.html
- Daytona Beach News Journal Online

Friday, July 16, 2010

Activity on S. Sarasota's Turtle Beach

A wading bird has been here...
Sand castles, moats and all
Boats moored offshore from Midnight Pass,
a short walk south from Turtle Beach
Kayaks visit.

Baby whale washes ashore in Hallandale

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Baby-Whale-Washes-Ashore-in-Hallandale-98592244.html
- NBC Miami

Squirts confused with an oil gusher

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100716/ARTICLE/7161053/2416/NEWS?Title=Sea-squirts-confused-with-tar-balls#
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

See also article below: "Sea creatures cause tar ball scare"

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sarasota Beach BLOG

http://beachreport.blogs.heraldtribune.com/
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Sea creatures cause tar ball scare

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100715/BREAKING/100719836/2416/NEWS?Title=Sea-creatures-cause-tar-ball-scare
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Autopsies on Gulf animals deepen a coastal mystery

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100715/ARTICLE/7151064
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Scallop Search 2010

Volunteer for the 3rd Annual Sarasota Bay Watch Scallop Search!

• Saturday August 21, 2010
• 9 am until 1 pm (on-site check-in begins at 8 am)
• Meet at the docks of Mar Vista, Longboat Key
• Registration is required and limited to 150 participants


Bay scallops are an important component of Florida’s coastal marine ecosystem and an indicator of ecosystem health due to their sensitivity to changes in water quality. The annual Scallop Search is an important component of assessing the overall health of bay waters.

Sarasota Bay Watch
is a grass-roots, non-profit, citizen-based organization dedicated to preserving and restoring Sarasota Bay's ecosystem through education and citizen participation. You can become an active participant by joining as a member and volunteering in Sarasota Bay Watch's on-going effort to protect and restore beautiful Sarasota Bay.

Volunteer to help preserve and protect Sarasota Bay!


Want to help organize the event? Join us for kick-off cocktails at the Mar Vista this Friday July 16 at 6 pm! Email John Ryan to RSVP and for more details.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Coquina Beach

Coquina Beach is on the south tip of Anna Maria Island.
South, across Longboat Pass, one can see Longboat Key.
The north tip of Longboat Key is covered with boats and bathers on a summer weekend. Beer Can Island is an appropriate name for the beach. The Gulf beach on N. Longboat has eroded away to the point that one can only reach Beer Can by boat.
(click for better photos)
Note the old pier at the south tip of
Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island.
It is in complete disrepair and dangerous to walk upon.
However, it does offer resistance to erosion of the beach.
Note the roots of the Australian Pine which grew in the rocks
and sand and
was chopped down long ago.
Search in box at upper left of page for "beer can" to see other photos.

Group aims to restore Keys lighthouses

http://keysnews.com/node/24786
- Florida Keys News

Sea turtle nests vandalized on nearby beach

http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/News/070920107079/Sea-turtle-nests-vandalized-on-nearby-beach
- Longboat Observer

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Sea Turtle Adoption Celebration at Elsie Quirk Library

Sea Turtle Adoption Celebration at Elsie Quirk Library Close
For ages 5-11. Summer Reading Program club members have been reading all summer and have helped to adopt a sea turtle. Come to the library for the Sea Turtle Adoption Celebration and enjoy a variety of creative activities. For more information about library programs or services call (941) 861-5000 ask about the Sea Turtle Adoption Celebration at Elsie Quirk Library.
Date: 07/27/2010
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Elsie Quirk Public Library
100 W. Dearborn St.
Englewood, 34223
Contact: (941) 861-5000

Learn about Sharks



Learn about sharks with marine biologist Keith Wilson. Registration recommended for this fascinating program. Call: 941-861-1363.
Date: 07/13/2010
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: North Sarasota Library
2801 Newtown Blvd.
Sarasota, 34234
Contact: 941-861-5000

Sarasota Hot Spot

Just a few paddle strokes
up Phillipi Creek from Sarasota Bay

Kayak Schedule - August to November

(Click on schedule for larger printable image.)
Leisurely paddling and observation at a variety of sites difficult to visit by any other means. Kayak, paddle, life vest, etc supplied. If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going. Call John at (941)966-7308 for reservations. Members who own a kayak and life vests are welcome to go on trips marked with an asterisk(*) for a $5 donation to ALS. Cost is $20 members, $25 non-members unless otherwise noted. Trips into State parks require an additional entrance fee.

Permits sought to remove ‘real trouble’ sand shoal at Wiggins Pass

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul/09/permits-sought-remove-real-trouble-sand-shoal-wigg/
- Naples News

Vandals tampering with sea turtle nests

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100710/ARTICLE/7101024/2416/NEWS?Title=Vandals-tampering-with-sea-turtle-nests
- Sarasota Herald Tribune