The “Dog Days of Summer” — What does that really mean?
The freedictionary.com gives the following definitions: “…a hot, sultry period of summer between July and early September, a period of stagnation, a period marked by inactivity, a period marked by lethargy or indolence.”
Sounds about right. One good thing about “Dog Days”, however, is the hotel rates in the Keys become almost reasonable. Here at home, between the mosquitoes, temperatures in the nineties and above, and humidity that is indescribable, the waterways and beaches are generally a lot less crowded. Only the hard-core boaters are found on the water in August.
It also happens to be the best time for SCUBA diving. Waters are the clearest they will be all year, bait pods are everywhere, and fishing is the best! Which reminds me – time to get my gear over to SCUBAdventures for annual maintenance and service. With the new Paradise Reef Project providing new and fantastic opportunities for photography, spearfishing, or hook & line sport-fishing, this is the “Local’s” time to get out on the water and enjoy the reason we still live here.
Go to http://www.colliergov.net/your-government/divisions-a-e/coastal-zone-management/artificial-reef-program/reef-locations and see all of the new reef locations complete with GPS numbers.
Last month, our prize catch off of the Foote Family Reef was a 42” cobia – had to bend it to get it to fit in the cooler. Other fish we caught that day included a 250 lb Goliath grouper, a 52” barracuda, and as many snapper as we cared to catch. We also had several fish on that we never did see or get near the boat. But the action was great and the seafood was awesome! Watch out for those afternoon squalls though. They can come up in a heartbeat, and turn a sultry Dog Day into an adventure that you may not necessarily want to experience! Keep an eye on the tropics as well. Extended cruising plans should include the latest tropical weather updates and long-range forecasts. There are numerous on-line weather services, and aps for the cell phones are free. Plan your trip with safety in mind, and utilize all of the tools at your disposal.
Captain Jim Kalvin is a USCG Licensed 100 Ton Master, a local Marine Contractor, and a legislative advocate for recreational and commercial boaters and property Owners. He is available to speak to your group on a variety of boating and legislative topics – james.kalvin61@gmail.com or 239-280-6054.