June Sawfish Trip, 2009

Protected Species Permit # SEFSC-NMFS-13330
Everglades National Park Permit # ENP-2009-SCI-0002

June 20, 2009; Saturday
Met the crew at the lab at 0500. Everyone was chatty and stayed up taking, sharing stories, getting to know each other better almost all the way to I-75.

"And that's why they call it college."

Making great time, but I realized that we couldn't make it to Ocala Exit 358 before the truck would need gas so I stopped at the Micanopoy exit. Small. Backwoodys. There was only one gas station and it did not accept the GSA Fleet credit card. We were there long enough for the attendant to walk around the boat trailer and announce that we needed new tires. "You shouldn't be out on the hot interstate like this. Not worth killing someone." Four new tires ("and you should replace the spare, too, because it is probably dry-rotted") at $96 each.

Now, I am naturally mistrusting of mechanics. Add to that a truckload of women, towing a boat, in a government vehicle. I didn't really see what he was talking about and his pushy, scare tactics were a total put-off. So, yeah, I wasn't buying what he was selling. Besides, his establishment did not accept my credit card.

Moved on to the next exit for gas. Kinda worried.

At Exit 358, Alicia took photos of the trailer tires using her phone. I called the lab's mechanic, Bill, to check in and let him know what was up. She sent the photos to me via text and I sent them to him via email. Gotta love technology. Had Arby's for lunch like normal and waited to hear back.

In about an hour, the verdict was in. Find the closest tire retail store and replace all four tires. Again, we used the internet via Alex at home and my Blackberry. Decided on Tire Kingdom in Ocala and headed in that direction.

I met Elvis in the Tire Kingdom lobby. The quick change was going to take about 2 hours. We left PRISTIS and searched out a WalMart. One again, I forgot the Crock-Pot at home and decided to just go ahead and buy one for the project.

"Officially none of yours."

Back on the road, two hours behind schedule. Called The Captain's Table to let them know we would be in rather late. Made plans to stop in Naples for dinner. Ruby Tuesday's.

The crew was chatty. Discussing the adventure and sharing more stories. I like it better when everyone is talking. Makes the trip go by so much faster.

"Too pretty for math."

Couldn't find the Ruby Tuesday's in Naples and opted for The Cheesecake Factory. Our waiter was a very good looking latio man, Juan Diego. And the food was good, too.

Last bit of the drive down Tamiami Trail/Hwy 41 to Everglades City. Dark. Only the Heat lightning across the sky. And music on the iPod. Cut Copy. Madonna. Eminem.

Finally got moved into the apartment at midnight. Freaking! Mosquitoes! Everywhere! Biting me through my clothes.

Exhausted.


June 21, 2009; Sunday
Faka Union Bay. Ten Thousand Island National Wildlife Refuge.

There has been a northwest breeze blowing keeping everything much cooler than back up in the panhandle. Still very humid. Cannot leave apartment without bug spray no matter what time of day.

I did not sleep well last night. I never do the first night in a new place.

We lost sterring. We were going in a straight line and not that fast when it all came undone. The screw and washers fell into the small cavity under the engine and not into the water. It looked as if we had lost a nut. Quick thinking and used 4 large zip-ties to hold the engine to the jack plate/hydrolic steering.

Got 2 sets in on an incoming tide. Caught one, new larger juvenile female. STL = 160 cm. Same hot spot on the south-side of the spoil island, coming around corner close to the channel.

Got an email from the lab's secretary, Consuela, saying that a lady called in with a tag return on a sawfish. I called the lady and spoke with her at length about the project and relayed the information to the rest of the sawfish recovery team via email. Super excited!

Recapture Information:
Tag # : P01372
Female
52-53" total length estimated (converted = 134 cm)
Sunday June 21, 2009
Location : Off side of road in Barron River near Glades Haven Bait Shop on the way to Chokoloskee Island.
Gear : Hook and line, using mullet for bait.

Tagging information:
Tag # : Po1372
Female, Juvenile
Animal # : 018-2009-01-002
126.5 cm PCL, 142 cm TL, 145 cm STL
Wednesday April 1, 2009
Location : Everglades National Park; Mud Bay; Set 018/2009
Gear : Gillnet; 3", 100'

Made tabouleh for dinner. Called dad. It was great to talk to him and made me very home sick. Went for a quick swim in the hotel pool.

Seriously tired. I passed out around 8pm while the crew watched SPACEBALLS.


June 22, 2009; Monday
The local hardware store opened at 8am. Bought a wrench and a nut to fit the screw. Realized while fixing the steering that there was never a nut and the dang screw just rattled itself loose. Likely, from all the vibration while going down the interstate. Made a mental note to have Bill do an all points inspection before the next long trip.

Vowed to by myself a good pocket knife. Sog.

Everglades National Park Turner River. Two early sets on a slack/incoming tide. One new young-of-the-year female. One recapture male young-of-the-year (R1965). We encounter him in this same spot on every trip.

Everglades National Park Mud Bay. Sat here on the remaining incoming tide. Current really ripping and water higher than I've seen on any trip so far. The wind was pushing water in, too. Took advantage of the high water and fished behind the hot spot mangrove island in Mud Bay proper. No catch. Didn't even see one. The water was very turbid and warm (31+ degrees).

Made Crock-Pot shepherd's pie for dinner. Another quick dip in the pool. Watched LSU beat Texas in Game 1 of the NCAA College World Series. 11 innings. Geaux Tigers!


June 23, 2009; Tuesday
Panther Key. Ten Thousand Islands.

2 sets.

Massive thunderstorm with lightning caused us to anchor up by an island and take shelter under some shoreline mangroves. Frightning. Headed for the dock just as soon as there was a break in action.

Off the water by noon. Nap.

Made homemade chicken salad for dinner. Watched THE BONE COLLECTOR and LSU lose Game 2.


June 24, 2009; Wednesday

Incredible thunderstorms all night and into the morning. Stayed off the water and at the apartment all day.

Made manicotti for dinner. Watched WIPE OUT and LSU beat Texas to win the series.


June 25, 2009; Thursday
Goodland by 0800. At the dock in time to see black clouds building up all around. It was a race against the crappy weather and the outgoing tide. Decided to drive around Marco Island and do some outreach, leaving fliers and brochures and local marinas and yacht clubs. Left PRISTIS at the Calusa Island boat launch.

Boat launches & ramps (from chart):
1. Marco Island Marina - Flier
2. ???
3. Cedar May Marine/Marco Island Yacht Club - Flier and brochures. Spoke with a nice man who was very interested in out research. He said we could use the club's launch if we ever needed to.
4. County boat ramp - Nothing there to attach flier. Need a real metal sign like the one at Chokoloskee Island.
5. Caxambas Pass Marina - Flier
6. ???
7. Calusa Island Marina - Flier and brochures
8. Walker's Coon Key Marina - Could not find.

Had lunch on Calusa Island at Marker 8. Great dive with local flare. Good sweet potato fries.

Back at the apartment by 1400. Weather showing no signs to clearing. Lightning.

The crew changed clothes and went into Naples for a movie. I stayed behind to enter data, pack up for the drive back, make dinner (chopped chicken with orzo and goat cheese), checkout, and have some quiet time.


June 26, 2009; Friday
All packed and ready to go by 0530. Breakfast at Craker Barrel by 0700. Back on the road and headed north by 0730.

Every time I remembered that it was Friday and that I didn't have to go into work the next day, I smiled and felt an incredible sense of relief. This heat has been relentless, sucking my energy.

No real hiccups, made great time. Back to the lab by 1700.