By Christine Patton
Joint Effort Pays Off
Rod and Gun Club members collaborated with the Bonefish Bonnies to spend a morning out cleaning debris from the mangroves in front of Buccaneer Island, and really brought in a haul! Almost 30 people came out and declared it a most rewarding way to spend the morning.
Ocean Reef Club provided double and single kayaks and kits for collection — water, gloves, and trash bags and, most importantly, disposal of the pile of trash — and the nimble kayaks were able to nose into the mangrove for the inevitable flotsam and jetsam that gets hung up in there. But the added assistance of bigger collection boats — garbage scows? — provided a valuable backup that enabled the kayakers to offload their findings and to keep extracting debris until a vast pile (see photo) was amassed.
Analyzing the collection, the usual objects were found: rope, netting, anchor buoys and lines, but Kathy Weiland’s toilet seat won the prize for “Most Unusual” and the wooden pallet was certainly the largest object. Two types of plastic wrapper were prevalent, and they were passed on to the Club, though it’s likely that they were washed up from the Atlantic. Participants said they were amazed at the impact of a mere 90 minutes of work. It’s a start — come and join the repeat on February 9.
Instructor at the Range is a Hit!
Activity at the recently refurbished Range is humming, with attendance at the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday open days (10am-3pm) at all-time highs. Over 100 people, 50% women, have enjoyed the wide range of techniques available — trap, skeet, five-stand — and the newly comfortable facilities. For info plus directions, go to RodandGun.org or call the Cory the Range Master at 856-491-0409. Now the Rod and Gun is pleased to offer private and group lessons with our new instructor, Paul Montealegre (better known as Pablo). Starting January 26, Pablo will have the range for coaching on Wednesdays, but can be available other times by appointment. Pablo comes by way of Houston, where he ran the Escopeta Shooting Academy, and is a world-record holder over the last ten years. He is also an enthusiastic, supportive and effective teacher, who has quickly won over a group of Rod and Gun members who swear by his ability to improve results. For private or small group lessons on Wednesday, email Carmen Sferrazza at carmen@asi-group.com and also know that Pablo will be at the range giving “impromptu” advice and lessons if requested every Thursday and Saturday for the next few weeks.
Did You Know??
The Friends of John Pennekamp have partnered with View Into The Blue to design and install an underwater camera system adjacent to a section of the coral reef system located within the park. Go to pennekampparkfriends.org and sign on for 24-hour access to a live feed of marine activity! It makes a great screen saver…
Don’t Forget – Fish of the Month — Kingfish and Wahoo for January — a $50 gift certificate to the R&G member or his guest, who brings in the largest specimen to be weighed on the MarineMax scales any day this month.
