Sanibel Fishing Club to focus on injuries to birds and animals
On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, the Sanibel Island Fishing Club will be holding it’s monthly meeting. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the north room of the Sanibel Island Community House, which is located at 2173 Periwinkle Way. This month’s featured speakers will begin their presentation at 7 p.m. sharp. There is no admission charge for the event and the angling public is cordially invited to attend. Pizza and refreshments are available at a nominal charge.
This month we have a unique and important meeting that should be of interest to every angler on the island. We have two presenters, Dr. Heather Barron of CROW (The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) and Ralph Woodring of the Bait Box. They will be discussing how to avoid fish and bird injuries when angling in our local waters.
Barron, the new director of CROW, will discuss the numerous methods used to untangle or de-hook brown pelicans, cormorants and seagulls when they become entangled in fishing line or hook themselves while trying to steal baitfish. Barron will advocate their new “Clear Your Gear” campaign currently being promoted by CROW and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. CROW has recently seen a considerable increase in the number of birds and other wildlife adversely impacted by fisherman not familiar with the best techniques for handing these animals when entanglement occurs.
Woodring will focus on the best methods to use when releasing fish. His lifetime of experience on the island will help educate inexperienced anglers as to why they should not lift large sharks or tarpon out of the water, never use towels to grab fish, the benefits of proper venting, how to remove imbedded hooks and much more. Many of the tips presented will be coming from the members of the SIFC.
Together this should prove to be a fascinating program. The Sanibel Island Fishing Club believes that good stewardship of the estuaries and back bays means learning how to safely release fish and entangled birds and that every angler should know which methods out there have the least negative impact on these animals. Every environmentally concerned angler should take the time to attend this April 8 meeting.
The Sanibel Island Fishing Club meets monthly through season and sponsors several group outings as well as lending support for various fishing related charities and organizations such as START, Lee Reefs and the Sanibel Sea School. For information on joining the club please contact Rol Campbell at 472-8994 or attend our next meeting. The Sanibel Island Fishing club has been an active social club for more than 29 years on the island.