JANUARY 2007

          On a very raw Saturday morning, 11/04/06, some 35 anglers scraped the ice off their fiberglass and canvass and ventured out into the wind and 30 to 40 degree temperatures to fish our local waters in pursuit of the top prize in the FHFC Fall Fishing Tournament. The boat Joba 5 with Captain John Harris and anglers Bruce Young and Al Muenster took top honors with their catch of Speckled Trout and Catfish. Captain Bob Flanagan with George Maravelas and Terry Meier placed second with three Specs and a small Striper. Burgers and Dogs were served at Dan and Jane Thallman’s house afterwards and Pat Neal was congratulated for running such a fine event. Our speaker for the December meeting was Paul Wachter, proprietor of American Marine and American Fabricators which are both located on Hwy 17 South. Paul explained the do’s and don’ts of preparing  boat engines for the winter which proved to be very educational and amusing. Our speakers for the January 3^rd meeting will be Marine Patrol Officer Burl Syers and  Wildlife Enforcement Officer Steve Barnett who will talk about the new licensing arrangements that go into effect in 2007. A license is a permit which is issued upon payment of a modest fee that allows anglers to lose lures in a specified area. The Officers also will be explaining their diverse jurisdiction in fresh water, salt water, and joint waters which we all fish locally.

It was reported that our float won the “Most Innovative” award in the December 3^rd Harbour Christmas parade. The membership applauded the efforts of those who put so many hours in the preparation of the float, especially Bob and Beverley Costa, Harvey Pye, Laura Lindsay and Ruth Levin. What a great effort to produce such a fine representation of our Fishing Club’s main activity. Gus Villanova presented a short farcical video presentation of boaters and fishermen and the perils they face while doing relatively simple tasks ie. getting in and out of their boats. The 50-50 raffle money was won by Charlie Rist. Harvey Pye won the fish finder donated by American Marine which also donated a couple dozen Mirror Lures, two American Marine tee shirts and other fishing tackle for our members and guests to win.

           A fishing limit is defined by Henry Beard as the maximum number of a particular fish that an angler can take in a day. This number varies from place to place and species to species, but like the speed of light it is always so out of proportion to ordinary experience that it serves as a largely theoretical restriction with little practical application. 

                                                          Bob Bruggeworth