Yesterday I was sitting at the Calusa Island Marina here on Marco Island waiting for my fishing charter when I happen to glance over at the Naples Daily News, Marco Island edition, and the title read, 2006 sea turtle standings set grim record!

Here we go again I said to myself. It seems that all I read lately are articles about the devastation of our natural resources here in S.W. Florida. People wonder, what is killing everything? Dolpin, Sea Turtles, and Manatees are high on this impact list. The government wants to keep receiving the tax dollar from big business but they are destroying the environment by letting certain concerns get away with pollution issues, which in my mind are causing these red tide outbreaks.

Tourism is one of our largest industries here in S.W Florida and without the tourtist, there are fewer jobs, fewer tax dollars, and less industry to support the people living here.

Someone should step back and take a long, hard look at what is going on.   I love being a charter fishing captain here on Marco Island and hope that I will be able to continue doing so for many years.The Snook, Red Fish , Snapper, Sea Trout, and Goliath Grouper are just a few of the fish that we need to protect. I hope that we can reverse this devastating trend and begin living in harmony with Mother Earth.  

Marco Island, Florida, Jan.16 2007 and winter is upon us ,80 degrees and holding steady.I have been fishing here on Marco Island, Naples and the everglades 10,000 islands for over 20 years and can not remember a time when the weather was so mild.

Today was a cool morning here in southwest Florida. Morning temps in the mid 50′s high 80.

I was waiting at the dock for my charter to arrive and noticed 4 people coming towards the boat for a 4 hr trip of backwater fishing. Mom,Dad,and 2 children in tow. Dad out front carrying a huge 72 qt cooler. I thought to myself these people must eat allot for a cooler that big on a 4 hr trip oh well.Dad approached with the cooler and I prepared to load it on board thinking this is going to kill my back! Here it comes, I braced my self and dad flung it my way, to my amazement it was empty. I asked dad whats with the cooler , and he informed me it was for the fish!!!!!!

You now wonder why the government is predicting a total collapse of wild seafood market by 2048. Take only what you are going to eat tomorrow not what you can stuff your freezer and forget about,then undoubtly you wind up throwing out.