Some weeks I am slim on content for my blog, but this isn't one of those weeks. In the last five days I attended a seagrass restoration media event in the Florida Keys, caught an 80 pound tarpon, snorkeled a coral reef, toured a Classic American Car show and shot a 3D archery course. What's next?
The trip to the Keys was with Columbia Sportswear. We gathered approximately 15 local writers, editors and radio personalities together for a two day event that focused on seagrass restoration. Seagrass is the native grass that grows in shallow flats in the oceans all around the world. It is vital habitat to ocean life including fish, shellfish, eels and sea horses. Over 70% of marine life is dependent on seagrass beds at some point in its life stage. Seagrass is impacted, however, by human activities including propeller scarring and ill-placed development.
On day one we gathered the editors for a day of hands-on seagrass restoration work with the Ocean Foundation and Seagrass Recovery. There are specific restoration techniques including placing sediment tubes in the scars, placing out bird stakes and creating planting units to initiate stabilization and restoration of the seagrass.
Columbia Sportswear, in cooperation with Bass Pro Shops, through the sale of a special collection of its Performance Fishing Gear (PFG). Direct financial support will go to the SeaGrass Grow campaign to support conservation of the ecosystem.
After a day of seagrass restoration everyone hit the water for a day of fishing. We chartered nine boats including seven flats boats and two offshore boats. Columbia sponsored athlete Captain George Poveromo was one of the captains to take anglers fishing the deep seas off the coast of Islamorada. George and his first mate Carl Grassi were both a pleasure to hang out with and a wealth of knowedge.
I joined Miami Herald writer and outdoors woman extraordinaire Sue Cocking for a day of tarpon fishing with our guide Dick Hagood. Dick was an excellent guide, but it was a quiet slack tide so the tarpon were laid up and not eating a whole lot. By the afternoon there was a little action and Dick put the two Sues in a good spot to intercept the tarpon as they moved around a near by island.
As the day closed on us, my line went tight and a tarpon exploded in the air fifty feet away. After a thirty minute fight my guide had the leader in hand. Unfortunately the hook came free before we snapped any photos of the 80 pound fish, but that is probably better for the survival of the fish anyway.
On our last morning, despite wind and waves, Doug Berry, GM of the Bass Pro Shop, graciously treated us to a snorkeling trip a mile off shore from the docks of the Cheeca Lodge where we stayed. It was my first time snorkeling and it was awesome. Just like being in a tropical aquarium. I got a little sea sick from the high water, but it was worth it.
All in all an excellent trip. The best part was meeting the excellent people who attended the event. Everyone had a wealth of experience and ideas to contribute. Of course the oil spill was a main topic of conversation. We were at least 600 miles from the nearest reported oil, but it is clearly affecting everyone regardless. Public perception has already reduced bookings throughout the whole state even though the fishing and vacationing is still great at this time. Time will tell how the story will play out, but it is certain to be an ugly story from many perspectives for years to come.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success.
For more information:
Press release: Download BassPro-CSCMR_FINAL_060110
View the Columbia Sportswear Seagrass Restoration video.
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Sue Melus contracts with Columbia Sportswear to help with the hunting and fishing public relations. She is the owner of Melus Outdoors, LLC Public Relations and Communications.
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