Page 8 - Commentator_Apr2018

PGI FISHING CLUB Gary Skillicorn, garyskillicorn@hotmail.com

Rounding Cape Haze and heading toward Pine Island, Boca Grande Pass, Lemon Bay and
Gasparilla Island in search of a fish worthy of bragging about, are you aware that this is the
same water used by lurking pirates of the 1700s? Information has it that Jose Gasper, the
pirate also known as Gasparilla who was a cast-off of the Queen of Spain, used Charlotte
Harbor as his base of operation for plundering gold-bearing Spanish ships passing off the
coast. Which of the barrier islands you pass might be the resting place for buried treasure?
It might give food for thought while enjoying the sunshine and warm waters in search of the
“big one.”

I am pleased to announce that the Fishing
Club is developing a program for fishing
outings with the boys of Crossroads Hope
Gary Skillicorn Academy. Crossroads’ goals are to
provide a stable and enriched learning
environment; to
provide “tools”
to each boy so they
can survive in the
world; and to teach
each boy what
society expects from
them and what they
should expect from
themselves. We’re
anxious to do our
part by sharing the
joy of fishing they
may have missed.

We’re saying
farewell to some of the fish that have wintered over with us, namely
sheepshead and tripletail. They’ll be back like clockwork. We’re now
focusing on snook,
Ron Topper - 26” Red Grouper tarpon and redfish.
The photos in this
and upcoming
articles will note the
change. From the
photos you can also see we do more than fish.

Please come join us on April 10 at
7 p.m. for our next meeting at the PGICA. Even if not a member
you’re welcome to visit and see why the Fishing Club is the biggest
club in the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association.

Our club is active
year-round with fishing
events, picnics and
many other assorted
activities. Visit our website at www.pgifishingclub.org and look at our
newsletter for the most current activities going on throughout the year.

Below are some events that might be of interest to many of you:

Wednesdays at 5: happy hour at the Sheraton Tiki Hut
Tuesdays and Fridays at 7 a.m.: breakfast at Elena’s
Second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.: club meeting at the PGICA
Second Thursday of the month: Lady Anglers' luncheon
Fourth Thursday of the month: Lady Anglers’ dinner

The PGI Fishing Club is one of the finest fishing clubs in Florida. We
average over 450 active members from the novice fishermen and Dianne Red - 37” Grouper

www.pgica.org 8