INSIDE: MEXICO & BELIZE SHARE BONEFISH • HURRICANE IRMA IMPACTS • BONEFISH RESTORATION UPDATE A publication of BONEFISH & TARPON JournalSTEWARDSHIP THROUGH SCIENCE • SPRING 2018 Are Permit Creatures Of Habit? B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 W W W. B T T. O R G 1 Editorial Board A publication of BONEFISH & TARPON Dr. Aaron Adams, Harold Brewer, Bill Horn, Jim McDuffie Publication Team Publishers: Harold Brewer, Jim McDuffie JournalSTEWARDSHIP THROUGH SCIENCE • SPRING 2018 EditorialEditor: Nick Board Roberts A publication of BONEFISH & TARPON EditorialDr. Aaron Assistant: Adams, AlexHarold Anne Brewer, Matthews Features: Updates/Reports: AdvertisingBill Horn, Coordinator: Jim McDuffie Henry Buck Bonefish Restoration Research Project Update ..........14 Setting the Hook ...........................................4 Layout and Design: Scott Morrison, Perspectives: Fix Our Water Update ...........6 Publication Team Hurricane Impacts ..........................................................18 Morrison Creative Company Welcome Aboard ..........................................8 Publishers: Harold Brewer, Jim McDuffie Science Symposium Summaries .................................. 24 Managing Editor: Alex Lovett-Woodsum Tippets ......................................................... 10 STEWARDSHIP THROUGH SCIENCE • SPRING 2017 Consulting Editors:Photography Bob Baal, Nick Roberts Project Permit UpdateJournal ................................................... 32 Conservation Captain Q & A ......................30 Layout and Design: Scott Morrison, Cover: Pat Ford Symposium Angling Legends ....................................... 38 Featured Artist: Chet Reneson ..................36 MorrisonAaron Creative Adams, Company Ph.D. Features: Updates/Reports: Advertising Coordinator: Mark Rehbein Mexico/Belize Bonefish Research................................ 44 6th International Science Symposium .... 48 Jordan Carter The Florida Keys Initiative .............................................12 Setting the Hook ...........................................4 Andy Danylchuk, Ph.D Fix Our Water ..................................................................14 Changing of the Guard .................................6 PhotographyDan Decibel Tarpon Genetics: Connectivity Across the Atlantic ....18 Perspectives ..................................................8 Cover:Eric Tosh Estrada Brown AaronJustin Adams Lewis BonefishBoard Conservation of Directors & Restoration Program ......... 26 Tippets ......................................................... 10 Jacob Brownscombe Jon Shenker, Ph.D Next Level Permit Tracking........................................... 28 Q & A with Florida Keys Guides.................22 James Buice Officers (*Executive Committee) JacquelinePatrick WilliamsChapman ExcerptHarold from Brewer, A Passion Chairman for ofPermit the Board, ............................... Key Largo, Florida*30 Keep ‘em Wet Contest Results ..................38 DanCraig Decibel Winter Of BonefishBill Horn, and Vice Contaminants:Chairman of the Board, What Marathon,is the Risk? Florida* ..... 32 2017 Featured Artist: John Swan .............. 41 Jared Zissu Jim McDuffie, President, Coral Gables, Florida* Pat Ford Cuba: Writing the Next Chapter ................................... 36 Trip of a Lifetime: Belize River Lodge .......42 Dr. Zack Jud Tom Davidson, Chairman Emeritus, Key Largo, Florida* Frankie Marion JuvenileRuss Fisher,Tarpon Vice Habitat Chairman Mapping Emeritus, & RestorationKey Largo, Florida* ....... 52 Ghost Stories ...............................................48 ContributorsScott Morrison IRL TBillarpon Stroh, and Managing Snook Director,Nurseries Florida .................................. Keys, Florida* 54 MarjorieAaron Adams, Shropshire Ph.D. Bill Klyn, Chairman of Marketing, Jackson, Wyoming* BeauAriel BeasleyWile Jeff Harkavy, Strategic Relationships, Secretary, Coral Springs, Florida* Aaron Adams, Director of Science and Conservation, Melbourne, Florida* JacobAlex Brownscombe,Lovett-Woodsum Ph.D. Board of Directors ContributorsSascha Danylchuk Officers (*Executive Committee) Bill Horn Harold Stu Apte Brewer, Chairman of theMike Board, Fitzgerald Key Largo, Florida*Sandy Moret Jay Robertson Aaron Adams, Ph.D. BillTavernier, Horn, Vice Florida Chairman of theWexford, Board, PennsylvaniaMarathon, Florida*Islamorada, Florida Islamorada, Florida Alex Anne Matthews Christine Beck Jim McDuffie, President, Coral Gables, Florida* BrookeNick Roberts Black Rodney Barreto Pat Ford Carl Navarre Bert Scherb TomCoral Davidson, Gables, FloridaChairman Emeritus,Miami, Key Florida Largo, Florida* Islamorada, FL Chicago, Illinois Jacob WJon. Brownscombe, Shenker, Ph.D. Ph.D. Russ Fisher, Vice Chairman Emeritus, Key Largo, Florida* James Buice Matt Dan Connolly, Berger President Emeritus,Allen GantHingham, Jr. Massachusetts*John Newman Rob Sharpe Paul Wills, Ph.D. Alexandria, Virginia Glen Raven, North Carolina Covington, Louisiana Key West, Florida Tom Karrow Bill Stroh, Managing Director, Florida Keys, Florida* BonefishAlex Lovett-Woodsum & Tarpon Journal LuisBob Menocal, Branham Managing DirectorGus Cuba,Hillenbrand Palmetto Bay, Florida*David Nichols* Nelson Sims* Jonathan Olch BillPlantation, Klyn, Co-Chair Florida of Membership,Batesville, Jackson, Indiana Wyoming* York Harbor, Maine Key Largo, Florida 135 JenniferSan Lorenzo Rehage, Ave., Ph.D. Suite 860 JeffMona Harkavy, Brewer Strategic Relationships,Rick Hirsch Secretary, Coral Springs,Steve O’Brien Florida* Jr. Adelaide Skoglund CoralNick Gables, Roberts FL 33146 AaronKey Largo, Adams, Florida Director of ScienceNew andYork, Conservation, New York Melbourne,Boston, MassachusettsFlorida* Key Largo, Florida Rolando Santos, Ph.D. Christopher Buckley Jr. Dave Horn John O’Hearn Steve Stanley Jon2018 Shenker Events, Ph.D. Stu Apte Allen Gant Jr. David Nichols* Rob Sharpe Liz Wallace, Ph.D. T avernier,Islamorada, Florida Florida Glen KeyRaven, West, North Florida Carolina YorkBig Harbor, Pine Key, Maine Florida KeySt. West, Petersburg, Florida Florida 7th Annual NYC Dinner & Awards Ceremony, JoEllen Wilson RodneyAdolphus Barreto A. Busch IV Rob Hewett*Kevin Johnson SteveDavid O’Brien Perkins Jr. NelsonJohn Sims*Turner The University Club—March 13, 2018 CoralOfallon, Gables, Missouri Florida Aurora,Naples, Ontario FL Boston,Manchester, Massachusetts Vermont KeyWinston Largo, Salem,Florida North Carolina Bonefish & Tarpon Journal BTT in Houston, DanSarah Berger Cart Gus HillenbrandBill Legg* JohnAl PerkinsonO’Hearn AdelaidePaul Vahldiek Skoglund 135 San Lorenzo Ave. • Suite 860 AlexKeyandria, Largo, Virginia FL Batesville,Key Largo, Indiana Florida BigBozeman, Pine Key, MTFlorida KeyHouston, Largo, FloridaTexas Gordy &Coral Sons Gables, Outfitters—April FL 33146 12, 2018 BobGreg Branham Fay Rick HirschWayne Meland DavidChris Perkins Peterson SteveKen StanleyWright Bozeman, MT Naples, FL Titusville, Florida Winter Park, Florida 2017 FundraisingBTT in Bozeman, Events Plantation, Florida New York, New York Manchester, Vermont St. Petersburg, Florida The Emerson Center—August 23, 2018 Mona Brewer Dave Horn Chris Peterson John Turner Naples, FL – January 11, 2017 AdvisoryKey Largo, CouncilFlorida Key West, Florida Titusville, Florida Winston Salem, North Carolina Boca Grande,BTT’s FL –Mission February 3, 2017 Honorary Trustees New York, NY – March 14, 2017 RandolphChristopher Bias, Austin,Buckley Texas Jr. Bill Legg* Marty Arostegui, CoralJay Gables, Robertson Florida TomP McGuane,aul Vahldiek Livingston, Montana To conserveIslamorada, and restore FL – March bonefish, 30, 2017 tarpon and CurtisIslamorada, Bostick, Marco Florida Island, FloridaKey Largo, FloridaBret Boston, Alpharetta,Islamorada, Georgia Florida AndyHouston, Mill, Aspen, Texas Colorado Charles Causey, Islamorada, Florida John Moritz, Boulder, Colorado 6th International Symposium, Weston, FL – Betsy Bullard, Tavernier, Florida permit fisheries and habitats through research, DonJack Causey, Curlett Miami, Florida Sandy MoretYvon Chouinard, Ventura,Bert California Scherb JohnnyKen Morris,Wright Springfield, Missouri stewardship,November education 10-11, and2017 advocacy. ScottKey Deal, Largo, Ft. Pierce,Florida Florida Islamorada, MarshallFlorida Field, Hobe Sound,Chicago, Florida Illinois JackWinter Nicklaus, Park, Columbus, Florida Ohio ChrisMike Dorsey, Fitzgerald Littleton, ColoradoJohn NewmanGuy Harvey, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Flip Pallot, Titusville, Florida BTT’s Mission ChicoWexford, Fernandez, Pennsylvania Miami, Florida Covington, LSteveouisiana Huff, Chokoloskee, Florida Nathaniel Reed, Hobe Sound, Florida To conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and Mick Kolassa, Oxford, Mississippi James Jameson, Del Mar, California Mark Sosin, Boca Raton, Florida permit fisheries and habitats through research, Andrew McLain, Clancy, Montana Michael Keaton, Los Angeles, CA / MT Paul Tudor Jones, Greenwich, Connecticut stewardship, education and advocacy. AdvisoryDavid Meehan, Council St. Petersburg, Florida Rob Kramer, Dania Beach, Florida Bill Tyne, London, United Kingdom RandolphMichael Nussman,Bias, Austin, Davidsonville, Texas Maryland “Lefty”Jack Payne, Kreh, Gainesville,Cockeysville, Florida Maryland “Lefty”Joan Kreh, Wulff, Cockeysville, Lew Beach, MarylandNew York CurtisJack Bostick,Payne, Gainesville,Marco Island, Florida Florida HueySteve Lewis, Reynolds, Stevensville, Memphis, Montana Tennessee HueyMatt Lewis, Connolly, Stevensville, Hingham, Montana Massachusetts* AdolphusSteve Reynolds, A.