THE BACKCOUNTRY FLY FISHING ASSOCIATION OF BREVARD An Active Member Club of the International Federation of Fly Fishers™ www.bffa-brevard.org Volume XXV Number XIII October, 2014 Monthly Dinner Meeting Thursday, October 2nd, 6:30 PM Memaw's Bar B-Q Eau Gallie Blvd. Indian Harbour Beach Our program for October will be presented by Brett Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer of The Snook & Gamefish Foundation. Brett served as Chairman from 2009-2011, and as Regional Director (SouthEast) for three years prior. He is a contributing editor to Florida Sportsman Magazine, and a special education instructor in the Palm Beach County school system for 12 years where he has promoted an academic curriculum of environmentalism and resource conservation. Brett served in the United States Army in both Intelligence and as a Paratrooper with Special Forces Operations. He attended University of South Florida and holds a Bachelor's and a Masters degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders. He is an expert guitar player, fly tier, photographer and fisherman. Brett was chosen as Snook and Gamefish Foundation's 2009 Person on the Year for his accomplishments on behalf of inshore fishing, and in that year he also completed the book, Sportsman's Best: Snook. He reports that he will be talking about snook biology and behavior, and how that relates to pattern selection, plying new waters, etc, He will also speak on conservation matters, including the Angler Action Program. Page-1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BFFA Officers and Directors Chairman of the Board: Don Davis [email protected] As autumn exhales her first breath, most notice the change in the air; however, it's the change in the water that captures my attention. By far October is my favorite time of year to fish. Living just a short bike ride away from the beach, I plan my weekends according to the tides, the sunrise and the twilight. How exciting it is to see huge Tarpon rocketing through schools of Mullet, or Snook chasing Glass Minnows right under my feet. I'll never grow tired of witnessing the leaping Spinner Sharks, Blue fish, Lady fish, and Spanish Mackerel jumping, full throttle, through a ball of bait fish. President: Bryan Hatfield (Home) 779-8458 [email protected] Vice President/Programs: Dominc Agostini (home) 557-7124 Secretary/Treasurer: Ron Winn (Home) 777-3341 [email protected] Conservation Director: Bill DeLuccias (Home) 729-8188 [email protected] Often, curious tourist walking the beach come up to me and ask, "What do you catch out here?" Normally, I reply with a quick elevator speech on fishing off the beach. Education Director/Fly Tying: Jeff Ward 242-2815 [email protected] Outings Director: Mike Reynolds (Home) 409-5669 [email protected] Just last year this scenario played out: I pointed to the nervous looking water and told them to "Watch! That's a school of baitfish!" Quickly I cast my lure in the middle of the bait school and as if on que, boom! A Tarpon rocketed to the surface, crushing my plug and throwing baitfish left and right. The tourist's wife screamed, and he gasped as I began to fight the 100 lb fish that was leaping just yards from the shore. Seconds went by like minutes and with three jumps and a line peeling 150 yards later it was over. Auction Chairman: Frank Catino 777-5706 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Frank Perkins 676-0863 [email protected] Dave Hackett 255-4750 Every day spent fishing the Fall bait run is a day to remember. Who knows what else you'll see and have a chance to catch. Webmaster: M.E.DePalma (Work) 954-563-2148 [email protected] Come and join me at Fishing Paradise at the end of my street. THE BACKCAST is published monthly by the Backcountry Fly Fishing Association of Brevard P.O. Box 524 Melbourne, FL 32902-0524 Page-2 CONSERVATION FISHING REPORTS Hello Everyone, I know many of you in the club but not everyone, that being the case I just wanted to provide you with a quick introduction. My name is Bill DeLuccia and I am the the club’s new Conservation Director. Currently my list of other non paying conservation gigs include the being the Ocean Friendly Garden Coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation and an active member of the Florida Native Plant Society. I try to act as resource for those interested in utilizing native plants and “zero scaped” landscapes to minimize negative storm water impacts on the Indian River Lagoon and our beaches and to provide habitat restoration for wildlife. I have worked on projects with local municipalities, schools and homeowners. If any of you are interested in speaking to me about any of these or any other conservation topics feel free to reach out to me at a meeting or call me at 321-986-7864. Thanks, tight lines. My 10 year old grandson , Sam wanted to catch a fish on one of the flys he had tied . Well, on Friday (9-12-14) he did it big time , he landed this well over five pound bass. Dick Pettit Bill DeLuccias NEW MEMBERS Welcome to our new member this month: Recent reports indicate good activity at Sebastian Inlet. Redfish, Mangrove Snapper, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, Snook and Jacks have all be reported. Stephen Moon Of Cocoa Ron Winn and others report good and varied activity in the surf, often close-in.. PASSINGS Our condolences to member Ned Scheerhorn. His father, Bernard Scheerhorn, passed away on Sunday, Sep 14. He was 92 and lived a full life. He was an excellent fisherman, outdoors man, and mentor to Ned. He had numerous “Field and Stream” awards for trophy spotted sea trout. Page-3 FLY TYING CASTING FOR RECOVERY Jeff Ward will be tying a Streamer Brush Minnow in October. The material list: Hook: Eagle Claw Octopus #4 “Fish Tails and Cocktails” benefiting Casting for Recovery, the Breast Cancer recovery organization, will be held in Jacksonville on Friday, October 3., sponsored by Blackfly Outfitters. For information, contact Robin Folsom, 321-258-1913 or [email protected] Thead: Mono or 210 White Tail: SF Flash Blend Shrimp Body: Flash Blend Baitfish Brush Shrimp Eyes: 1/4" 3d oval pupil ANDY MILL Our annual all-day sessions with distinguished guests have been popular, entertaining and informative. This year , in addition to our regular spring program, we have planned a special fall event, featuring Andy Mill, who some may remember from his presentation here in 2006. Andy will be presenting an all day program to the club on Saturday, November 22, starting with breakfast at 7:00 AM at Memaw’s BBQ, our regular meeting place. He was America's top downhill ski racer in the mid-1970s. After his ski racing career concluded, Andy Mill found another passion - tarpon fishing. He won five Gold Cup Tarpon tournaments and was a triple crown winner in tarpon fishing (Gold Cup, Hawley, and Golden Fly). Mill has also hosted an outdoor show on Outdoor Life Network. See or call Ron Winn to reserve a place. Page-4 IFFF NEWS BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST Dues are Due Each year between September and December the BFFA collects dues from its members. These dues help us maintain the function of our club by having funds to pay for such things as speakers, postage, PO box rent, awards, tide charts, etc.. During the 25 years we have been in existence we have not raised our dues and they will remain $20 for an individual, $30 for a family, and $10 for a student. If you have joined from May on in 2014 you do not have to renew for this coming year, but if you joined before May in 2014 we ask that you do renew. Please see Ron Winn at the next meeting or feel free to mail them in if you like to: Bonefish and Tarpon Trust is having two events in November at the IGFA Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania, FL. On Friday, November 7th, and Art and Film Festival will be held, and on the 7th and 8th the Fifth International Bonefish and Tarpon Symposium will be held. BFFA PO Box 524 Melbourne, FL 32901 Thank you The Art and Film Festival includes an art gallery that will feature some of today's biggest names in saltwater art and photography displaying and selling their art with portions of the proceeds going directly BTT. MISCELLANEOUS The Symposium features presentations by scientists, and fishing and casting clinics taught by some of the world’s top anglers and instructors. Two separate studies have found evidence that some marine animals have multiple internal clocks -one lunar and one tidal. Scientists at the University of Vienna found evidence of a circalunar clock in a marine creature called a ragworm, while researchers at England's University of Leicester discovered a tidal clock in the marine crustacean Eurydice pulchra, a relative of the pill bug. National Geographic News (9/26) For details on the both the Festival and Symposium go to: http://www.bonefishtarpontrust.org/general/5thinternational-bonefish-tarpon-symposium.html Page-5 BFFA October 2014 Events Monthly Dinner Meeting Board Meeting Thursday, October 9th, 6:30 P.M. Thursday, October 2nd, 6:30 P.M. Memaw's Bar B-Q Eau Gallie Blvd. Indian Harbour Beach (Meet at 5:00 PM for dinner ) Ron Winn’s office Melbourne Outing Fly Tying No outing this month Monday, October 20th, 6:15 P.M. Melbourne Public Library Fee Ave. Melbourne THE BACKCAST Backcountry Fly Fishing Association of Brevard P.O. Box 524 Melbourne, FL. 32902-0524 Limit your kill, don’t kill your limit ! Please practice Catch and Release.