CIHS reeling in new documentary in series
The Captiva Island Historical Society is in the final stages of production for its next film.
“Big Fish Stories: The History of Angling on Captiva,” the ninth documentary in the “Captiva Memories” collection, is a feature-length film being created by award-winning producer and CIHS documentarian Ken Sneeden. The film chronicles how the island came to be defined by fishing.
“Whenever we hear about the history of Captiva, it always centers around fishing,” CIHS Board President Tim Libonate said, citing the Calusa and Cuban fishermen, to the later sport fishing.
“In some way, it defines Captiva,” he added.
A synopsis for the documentary reads:
“The Calusas were early native Americans who fished for sustenance and established a coastal civilization on the islands because of the abundance of fish. The Cubans later came and fished commercially in the 1800s and 1900s, fostering local illegal trades in rum running and gun smuggling. Homesteaders came to Captiva and Buck Key in the late 1800s and fished as a supplement to their farming. They also welcomed early tourists to local rustic lodging to relax and fish. Newspaper accounts of catching tarpon on rod and reel in the 1880s brought wealthy and sometimes famous people here and started a sport fishing tourism industry, which continues to this day. The sport fishing enthusiasts shared the waters with people who made their living in commercial fishing, primarily mullet, until a net ban in the 1990s changed their way of life. All of these developments led to innovations in the type of bait, tackle, boats and other gear that were used for fishing. This history is a rich source of entertaining stories told by interesting people.”
The range of topics covered include:
– Fishing in “the old days”
– Fishing guides have always been a major part of the fishing history
– Calusa history as it relates to their reliance on fishing for living
– Cuban fishing smacks coming to local waters in the 1800s and early 1900s
– Prominent women in fishing history
– History of tarpon fishing
– History of other popular and abundant local fish besides tarpon
– Evolution and use of various tackle, bait and boats
– Early lodging and famous names related to recreational fishing
– Fishing experiences of current islanders
– Commercial fishing, especially net fishing
– Bridge fishing, especially on Blind Pass Bridge
– Environmental conservation and its impact on fishing
– Fish houses
Libonate explained that production started in about October or November.
“We’re just at the point now where it’s being wrapped up,” he said last week. “All the footage is assembled and we’re in final editing.”
The CIHS had originally planned to release the documentary during the just passed 2020-21 season. However, the ongoing pandemic made it difficult to secure a location to hold the premiere safely.
“So it’s planned for this coming season,” Libonate said. “If we don’t have another delay.”
As part of the production, the CIHS partnered with Jensen’s Twin Palm Cottages & Marina in November to host a “Share Your Story” event to document the public’s “Big Fish Stories.”
“It basically involved people who are current islanders and their fish stories,” he said. “What attracted them to fishing and why these are wonderful waters to fish.”
The CIHS also tapped historical first-person reports from newspapers and its archives.
“We have over 14,000 items in our archives,” Libonate said.
The film will be about an hour in length.
For the first time, the inaugural CIHS Producers Club provided underwriting support for the new documentary. He explained that the generous members included Jay and Cindy Brown, Dave Jensen and Queenie Viglione, Tony and Angie Lapi, and Dan Stegmann and the Captiva Rod & Gun Club.
“I think these are folks who are very passionate about fishing,” Libonate said.
To view the film’s trailer, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvCKSxiR99A&t=7s.
For more information about the CIHS, visit http://www.captivaislandhistoricalsociety.org/.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email