Are you a Lapsed Angler?

Increasingly, marinas and launch ramps, repair yards, bait shops, and other water-dependent businesses are being pushed off the waterfront as a result of residential development pressures and skyrocketing taxes. A bill now in Congress, H.R. 3223, would provide federal grants to coastal and Great Lakes states to help preserve and expand water access and protect working waterfronts.

Introduced by Rep. Thomas Allen (D-ME) and co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) the “Keep our Waterfronts Working Act” would provide matching grants through state coastal zone management programs to support “water-dependent commercial activities.” Local governments could use grant funds to purchase a threatened marina outright, or a non-profit entity could obtain a grant to buy development rights in order to keep a working boatyard, public marina, fish wharf, or crab wholesaler, for example, in business. To be eligible, a state would have to develop a working waterfront plan and appoint an advisory committee. You can check the progress of H.R. 3223 on the Web at thomas.loc.gov.

Are you a Lapsed Angler?
Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, the Carolinas, and Florida are among the 27 states that will be conducting a program to reel in lapsed anglers with help from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). If you had but haven’t renewed a fresh or saltwater fishing license in these states, you can expect a gentle nudge. Fishing license sales are a critical source of funding for state agency conservation. RBFF estimates that the nationwide program could generate $5.6 million in funds for participating states.

Scratching for Bargains?
Last, but certainly not least, an institution nearly as old as Southern Boating, the Dania Marine Flea Market, is celebrating its 30th year March 6-9. Just don’t go looking for it in Dania. Since its modest beginning in 1979 with only 56 vendors, the Dania Marine Flea Market has become the largest event of its type. After 27 very successful years at the Dania Jai Alai fronton, the Marine Flea Market moved to Dolphin Stadium in Miami in 2006. The Stadium’s South Interior Parking Area will have more than 1,200 vendor spaces occupied by manufacturers, dealers and private sellers from across North America offering everything from coral encrusted antiques, to boats, new and used marine equipment, fishing tackle, and diving gear. Says originator Al Behrendt, “The Dania Marine Flea Market is unique because it provides a pleasant, almost party-like atmosphere for buyers and sellers to engage in friendly and, sometimes, intense ‘bargaining.’ Thousands of boating-related items are bought and sold through dickering and dealing.” For ticket and vendor information, visit daniamarinefleamarket.com.

Whale Watch
This is baby whale season (December–March) in the waters off the Florida/Georgia coast. The severely endangered North Atlantic Right Whale uses the area from near shore to 25 miles off the coast from about 28ºN to 31ºN as a delivery room. Cruisers should exercise caution as calving moms and their babies are slow swimmers and often lie near the surface.

Bridging the Keys
Jewfish Creek at Standard Mile 1134 south of unlighted daybeacon 34 at the top of Key Largo is getting a new high-rise bridge, but until it’s completed, cruisers wishing to transit between Florida’s east and west coasts via Jewfish Creek will see a number of temporary inconveniences this spring. Watch for construction barge congestion and restricted openings (hour and half hour with some temporary suspensions) during daylight hours through the end of April. There will be some complete closures at night during that period while girders are placed. While on the subject of the Florida Keys, Plantation Yacht Harbor, a full-service marina on the backside of Islamorada at Founders Park, has a new number for slip reservations: 305-852-2381.

What ARE You Waiting For?
If you haven’t made checking the USCG Notice to Mariners a monthly if not weekly chore, you should. This is the place to find out if those marks you are going to be looking for are damaged, moved or otherwise “INOP,” as they say. Downloadable pdf files of the weekly notices are published at navcen.uscg.gov/lnm. Click on the portion of the map where you will be cruising for the report. The far right column will let you know when the report was first posted, and if it’s new, it should show up in bold.