Category: Island Update

Round Robin Tennis returns to recreation center

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date May 10, 2021

The Sanibel Recreation Center is once again offering Round Robin Tennis on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Tennis Pro Joe McEntyre organizes the matches. Cost to play is $13.25
for members and $17.50 for non-members; registration includes a demonstration of doubles tactics and doubles play.

Advance registration is required at the front desk as space is limited. Daily, weekly, semi-annual and annual memberships are available.

For more information, call 239-472-0345 or visit www.mysanibel.com. The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.

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Island Update

Greater amberjack reopens to recreational harvest

Post author By LeAenSUAREZGroup
Post date May 5, 2021

The recreational harvest of greater amberjack reopened in Gulf state and federal waters for May 1-31. After an annual season spawning closure in June and July, recreational harvest is scheduled to reopen again from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31

If you plan to fish for greater amberjack or certain other reef fish species in Gulf or Atlantic state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel (includes anglers over 65 years of age), you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler. If you are already a Gulf Reef Fish Angler, your Gulf designation meets the new statewide requirement until it expires. To learn more about the no-cost designation, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS. Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Annual renewal is required.

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Island Update

Bike or Hike Sanibel Brochures, Maps Available

Post author By LeAenSUAREZGroup
Post date May 3, 2021

The city is distributing educational Bike or Hike Sanibel brochures to educate cyclists, pedestrians and motorists of state and city laws when biking, hiking or driving on island. The development and printing of the map and brochure, which includes a map of Sanibel’s Shared Use Path System, are grant funded.

To bring awareness to the live cameras on-island and assist in navigating traffic this season, the city strongly encourages residents, business owners, workers and visitors to download the Sanibel Bound app. It allows users to view live street cameras located at key intersections. Download the app for free on Apple or Android devices. The live feeds are also online at www.mysanibel.com/Live-Street-Cams.

To receive a supply of the Bike or Hike Sanibel maps and brochures for a residence, business or accommodation, contact City Manager Judith Zimomra at [email protected]. To view Important Peak Season information, visit http://traffic.mysanibel.us/Flyer.pdf. To view the Sanibel Bicycle Club’s Bicycle Safety Video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ClTdJ6m9yo.

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Island Update

RARE VISITING BIRD TO FLORIDA OBSERVED ON SANIBEL

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date March 29, 2021

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation staff and volunteers recently participated in the 13th Annual Florida Winter Shorebird Survey to better understand the winter distribution of shorebirds and seabirds and identify long-term trends or changes in winter populations. They counted 2,443 individuals of 25 different species.

One of the most interesting and unexpected observations was an all-white gull on the East End of Sanibel on Feb. 8. Staff took several photographs of it before moving on to help an injured pelican. Upon closer inspection of the photographs later and consultation with local birders and experts, it was determined to be an Iceland gull — an extremely rare visitor — SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht said.

Iceland gulls nest in Arctic Canada and are typically not seen this far south in the winter. The bird had an orange mark on its neck, which could be related to an injury or some type of staining, she said. Several banded birds were observed as well, including a 20-year-old banded royal tern. It was banded as a chick with number 814-48719 in Lola, North Carolina, in July 2001.

Island Update

FWC ON TRIGGERFISH SEASON, FLOUNDER REGULATIONS

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date March 27, 2021

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the recreational gray triggerfish season reopens to harvest in Gulf state and federal waters on March 1 and will remain open through May 31, closing on June 1 through July 31 for an annual spawning season closure.

If you plan to fish for gray triggerfish in Gulf state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “State Reef Fish Survey” under “Reef Fish.” Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Learn more about gray triggerfish regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Triggerfish,” which is under the “Reef Fish” tab. In addition, it reported that the following changes will go into effect on March 1 for flounder:

Extending all FWC flounder regulations into federal waters.

Increasing the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length (recreational and commercial).
Reducing the recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five fish per person.
Establishing an Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 recreational closed season.
For commercial harvesters using allowable gear: Establishing a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 fish from Dec. 1 through Oct. 14, and 50 fish from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Modifying the incidental bycatch limit for commercial harvesters using non-allowable gear from 50 pounds per trip to 50 fish per trip.
Creating a federal waters trawl bycatch limit of 150 fish per trip from Dec. 1 through Oct. 14, and 50 fish per trip from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.

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Island Update

SEA TURTLE SEASON IS ACTIVE

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date June 22, 2020

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hatchling. Heron Island, Capricorn-Bunker Group, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Auscape/UIG via Getty Images)

Captiva Erosion Prevention District would like to remind residents and visitors of the sea turtles nesting and hatching on the beaches of Captiva in June and July.

With over 100 sea turtle nests on the beaches, counted by SCCF, it is imperative to know how sensitive the sea turtles are to white lights. Everyone can help protect the sea turtles by turning off their lights on the beach by sunset or replacing their white lights with shielded amber LEDs and possibly closing drapes or blinds in the house.

Tips to help keep the beaches sea turtle friendly:

Turn off or shield all lights that are visible from the beach. Do not use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach. If necessary, use amber or red LED bulbs.
Do not disturb the screens covering nests. They prevent predators from eating the eggs and the hatchlings emerge through the holes without assistance.
Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach at night.
Dispose of fishing line properly to avoid wildlife entanglement.
Fill in large holes that can trap hatchlings and nesting sea turtles.
Do not disturb nesting turtles please do not to get too close, shine lights on or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.
Pick up litter.
To report a sea turtle stranding, contact SCCF’s hotline at 978-728-3663.

For more info please visit http://www.sccf.org/

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