photo by kevin merritt oldfloridaaliveandwell ......calusa blueway, click to...

The-Banner.com WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 25, 2010 THEBANNER 5B

become an economical way to get upclose and personal with nature.“The whole family can get involved

in kayaking and it’s a great sport for asluggish economy,” he said.Anotherpopular segment of theGreat

CalusaBlueway festival is the“ShootingtheBlueway” thirdannualphotocontestwhich began inMarch and ends duringthe festival. Entries can include photosshot along the Calusa Blueway canoeand kayak trail. Prizeswill be awardedat theCalusaBluewayPaddlingFestivalin November.Photographers can compete in three

categories. They include paddlers onthe trail, nature photography and signson the Blueway. The later should fea-ture Calusa Blueway markers, accesspoints and fun spots. Prizes include anenlarged,matted and framed version oftheir photo and possible publicationin variousmagazines, newspapers andonline. Contest organizers will recog-nize “Shooting the Blueway” winnersand runners-up on thefinal Saturday ofthe Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival.There is no fee to enter the contest, al-though participantsmust include theirname, address, phone number, e-mailaddress, titleand locationof theirphoto.Eachparticipant can submit up to threephotos. The deadline to submit photos

is October 1, 2010. Participants must e-mail their photos to BClayton@LeeGov.comby the deadline for consideration.Judges will include Cape Coral artistand kayaker Jeannette Chupack, FortMyers photo artist and author MarkRenz and newspaper photographerAndrewWest of The News-Press.Attendees can attend theGreat Calu-

sa Blueway Paddling Festival on twoseparate weekends. The first part ofthe festival is from October 29 throughNovember 1 and the second part of thefestival is from November 4 throughNovember 7.Paddlers can access free maps and

GPS coordinates online at the GreatCalusa Blueway website along with alist of put-in sites, boat rental resourcesand guided tours. Guided moonlighttrips, ghost tours, eco-trips and fishingadventures are a just a few thingsmanyoutfitters offer. Outfitters can be foundall along the trail from Pine IslandSound to Estero Bay and the Caloosa-hatchee River and its tributaries. Onany given tour, paddlers can expect tocome upon all types of avian andwaterwildlife suchasdolphins,manatees, seaturtles, game fish and river otters.For more information on the Great

Calusa Blueway, click to CalusaBlue-way.com. Formore information on theCalusa Blueway Paddling Festival,click to CalusaBluewayPaddlingFes-tival.com.

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PHOTO BY KEVIN MERRITT

Paddlers on the Great Calusa Blueway.

KEVINMERRITTBanner CorrespondentNestled among themangroves, just

a shortdrive frombusyCoconutPointin Estero, stands one of the last re-maining bastions of old Florida wa-terfront fish camps.HickoryBait andTackle is the only public boat launchremaining on the east side of EsteroBay. Themarina draws local boatersand visitors alike, courtesy of its au-thentic landscape and commitmentto preserving rustic traditions of lifeon the water.Long before high-rise real estate

dotted the eastern shore of Esterobay, the area harbored a rich tradi-tion of commercial fishing. The spiritof careerwatermencan still be foundat the fully functioningmarina thanksto owner and operator Captain DaveLanier.“Ihave tried topreserveawayof life

that has stood on this property for along time,” saidLanier,whocanoftenbe found toiling over the meticulousconstructionof commercialbluecrabtraps. He makes and sells traps forstone and blue crab, pinfish and alsobait cages.TheWeeks family originally owned

thepropertybut iteventuallychanged

hands and landed with Lanier threeyears ago. Since then he has mademany improvements. Some of thosechangeshave includedakayaklaunchand rentals for people who choosepaddle power, wet slips and dry stor-age. Lanier has a background in lawenforcement, so it’s no surprise thatthe entire operation remains securevia video surveillance.Lanier’s background in regional

law enforcement and a stint with theUnited Nations Police seems a starkcontrast to theman that canbe founddrinkingrichCubancoffeeorenjoyingafinecigar in the shadeofhismarina.But Lanier is every bit a waterman.Hidden behind sun squinted eyes isan intimacywith thewaters ofEsteroBay that translates itself intoapeace-ful, laid back lifestyle.“I sometimes miss the adrenaline

rush,but I certainlydon’tmind there-laxedatmospherehere,” saidLanier.“After many years in an adversarialtype occupation, I was ready for thislifestyle.”Hickory Bait and Tackle appears

allergic to the stresses, hustle andbustle of a typical marina. Patrons

Old Florida alive and wellat Hickory Bait and Tackle

PHOTO BY KEVIN MERRITT

Hickory Bait and Tackle in Estero.

n seeHickory on12B

12B THEBANNER WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010 The-Banner.com

PLEINAIR PAINTING GROUPThe First Community Bankof Bonita Springs at 28235S. Tamiami Trail, BonitaSprings, has donated thelobby area to the Plein AirPainting Group of BonitaSprings to display theirworks of art. Stop in anenjoy a cup of coffee andcookies as you browsethe wonderful works ofwatercolor, pastels, oilsand acrylic.

ROTARY CLUB OF BONITASPRINGS NOONRotary International, aworldwide organizationof business andprofessional leadersproviding humanitarianservice, encouraginghigh ethical standardsin all vocations andpromoting goodwilland peace throughoutthe world. Info:bonitaspringsnoonrotary.org

SAN CARLOS PARK/ESTEROKIWANIS CLUBMeets for breakfast at 7a.m. every Thursday at theTalk of the Town in SanCarlos Park. Info: 267-9777 or 267-7525.

SINGLES DIRECTIONMeets monthly for dinnerprograms and outingsfor singles of Bonita, 50

years and older focusedon Christian fellowship.Meetings are held atFirst Presbyterian Churchof Bonita Springs, 9751Bonita Beach Road. Info:495-1744.

SINGLES BLESSING SINGLESSingles Blessing Singles ofBonita Springs has beensuspended until furthernotice. Info: (239) 947-6016.

SONS OF NORWAYSons of Norway GulfCoast Vikings of EsteroLodge 683 welcomesguests, newmembers andespecially children.Wemeet at the BreckenridgeClub House in Estero. Info:(239) 947-0100.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDAVESPA CLUBAll club events are opento all scooter riders. Manyof our members own:Vespa, Aprilia, Kymco,Cushman, Motofino,Suzuki, Piaggio andHonda scooters. The clubprovides an organizedoutlet for local scooterowners to share theirexperiences. Info:scooteratz@yahoo.com.

WIDOWSANDWIDOWERSWidows andWidowersAssociation, a group ofwomen andmenwhohave lost their lovedone andwant to share

friendship and funtogether, meet regularly.Info: (239) 331-8893 or(239) 591-2984.

WOOD CARVERSBonitaWood Carversmeet weekly throughoutthe year onWednesdayafternoons at the EsteroCommunity & RecreationCenter. Instruction isavailable for beginnersand advanced carversenhance their skills duringthe regular club sessions.Info: Lynn Sheeley, (239)482-6822.

ZONTA CLUB OF BONITASPRINGSThe Zonta Club ofBonita Springs is anorganization of businessand professional womendedicated to improvingthe circumstances ofwomen at all stages oflife, both locally andglobally. The Clubmeetsthe thirdWednesday ofthemonth from 5:30 to7:30 p.m. at the SpanishWells Golf & CountryClub. Info: (239) 434-5134or e-mail zonta@comcast.net.

Notebook itemsmust besubmitted to bannereditor@The-Banner.com by 5 p.m.Thursdays for the followingWednesday edition, and 5p.m. Tuesdays for the follow-ing Saturday.

Notebookcontinued from 11B

always stop for a short chat to get thescoop on the latest local fishing or toinquire about other happenings.“Fish tales are free,” says employee

and charter guide Darrol Deter.Though Hickory Bait and Tackle is

all about tradition and nostalgia, La-nier sees to it that hismarina featuresall themodern conveniences. Ethanolfree fuel is available.“Ethanol, since being added to fuel

haswreakedhavocwith boat engines,sowe felt itwasaniceaddition toofferethanol free fuel,” says Lanier, whoalsooffersWIFIonpremisesandhasaregular following of peoplewho cometo just hang out near thewater and getsome work done. Boater and firemanDavid Torquino frequents HickoryBait and tackle with his family.“I love thisplace, it has suchahomey

feel and I am all for supporting localsmall businesses,” said Torquino.All you need for a day on the water

can be found in Lanier’s office. Fish-ing tackle is limited to only what onetruly needs for fishing in Estero Bay.Live shrimp and pinfish are sold asare frozenbaits. OneofLanier’s objec-tives is to provide a one-stop-shop foranyone embarking on a waterborneadventure in Estero Bay.EsteroBayand themarina canboast

abundant wildlife. Manatees, everyimaginable Southwest Florida wad-ing bird, eagles, osprey and hawksall bask in Hickory Bait and Tackle’slaid back attitude. An early morn-ing departure and a sharp eye could

result in glimpses of the rare pair ofbobcats that lurk the area. Tripod andElvis, a local duo of alligators, alsooccasionally make an appearance.Some sizable snook and tarpon awaitthe morning shrimp tank cleaning inorder to snatch a free meal.Lanier offers charterfishing forboth

familiesandseriousanglersalongwitheco toursandsunset cruises.Hardcorefishermancanalsobe found frequent-ing the marina and several tourna-ments are held there each year.But perhaps themost popular gath-

erings ofHickoryBait andTackle fansare the quarterly barbeques.“We try to have a customer appre-

ciation day where we smoke ribs andcook local seafood,” said Lanier, whosees the cookouts as an opportunity togive back to the community. “We usu-ally donate the proceedings from ourcookouts to various charities.”

PHOTO BY KEVIN MERRITT

Blue crab traps for sale at Hickory Bait and Tackle in Estero.

Hickorycontinued from 5B

PHOTO BY KEVIN MERRITT

The Torquino family heads out on fishing trip from Hickory Bait and Tackle inEstero.

PHOTO BY KEVIN MERRITT

Hickory Bait and Tackle’s Dave Lanier.