Naples Stone Crab Festival

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Chloe

The Naples Stone Crab Festival is a two-day annual event that would offer residents and visitors alike several waterfront locations to enjoy food (starring stone crab of course), games, children’s activities and live music. The beautiful waters of Naples are an important part of the history of the area and its growth from a small, fishing village of days gone by to today’s tropical paradise that attracts visitors worldwide. As you will see from the list of activities not only does this event bring families down to the water but it educates them on our local history and what Naples has to experience.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit local non-profits such as Freedom Waters Foundation, Lighthouse of Collier, Make A Wish and many more.

October 26 – 28, 2012

http://www.stonecrabfestival.org

Asian Green Mussels In Florida

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Chloe

The Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) is not native to Florida’s waters. They were first found in Tampa Bay in late 1999, but recently they have been found on pilings, culverts and other submerged surfaces within the Rookery Bay Reserve and as far south as Marco Island.
These mussels are not native and can damage our sensitive estuarine ecosystems. It is possible for boaters to inadvertently move mussels to other local waters. The mussel larvae may be in bilge water and adult mussels may be attached to boat hulls.
To help prevent further spread:
  •  Inspect your boat regularly for these marine organisms and dispose.
  •  Prior to transporting boats to other water bodies, drain the bilge at an appropriate disposal station if oil is present in the bilge water.
  •  Spread the word. Make others aware of the problem non-native species can cause in our natural ecosystems.
  •  To report a sighting of these mussels go to U.S. Geological Survey (http://nas.er.usgs.gov/sightingreport.asp) and e-mail the exact location and photo (If possible) to info@rookerybay.org.
     

Labor Day Boating Fun in Florida

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Chloe

Labor Day weekend is coming and you may be planning some special activities for you and your family to enjoy. For many parts of the nation, summer is coming to an end, but here in Florida, this time of year is great for boating and related water activities. We have found a couple spots to help you come up with ideas for a wonderful holiday weekend.
State Parks Accessible Only by Boat
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge is a must see park located at the mouth of Tampa bay and is accessible only by boat. This island refuge was once the site of the former United States Army Fort Dade Military Reservation, and abundant reminders of this unique military past can be found scattered throughout the island today.
Cayo Costa State Park
This barrier island park is a Gulf Coast paradise and is also accessible only by private boat. You may see manatees and pods of dolphins in the waters around the park, as well as a spectacular assortment of birds. You can throw a line out into the surf from your boat. On the island, you can swim or snorkel in the surf, enjoy the sun, and picnic in the shade. Nature trails provide opportunities for hiking and off-road bicycling. An amphitheater provides educational programs about the island’s ecology and history.
Historical Boating Journey
Located to the southeast of the Tampa Bay, Manatee County is known as the spot where Hernando DeSoto landed in Florida in 1539. Fishing in Bradenton, the tarpon capital of the world, has been popular for generations. After a day of fishing Bradenton, you can experience some of Florida’s past at:
  • South Florida Museum
  • Parker Aquarium (home of Snooty the Manatee)
  • Emerson Point (lost Indian tribes and 1200 year-old temple mound)
  • Gamble Plantation (oldest Antebellum Plantation)
  • Manatee Historical Village
B&B
Bed & Breakfast? No, think again. If above activities are not exciting enough for you, I have to talk about Beer & Boating. Last year, boaters enjoy the 2011 Labor Day holiday anchored just off Peanut Island, an eighty acre tropical park operated by Palm Beach County and tucked between the Sailfish and Riviera Beach marinas, just south of the Blue Heron Bridge. Starting May 18, 2012, drinking alcohol on the Island is restricted to permit campgrounds only, though anyone on boats anchored off shore would still be allowed to drink legally. It’s a very popular spot for people to enjoy themselves on boats as long as they are acting responsibly.
Don’t forget to check out Xwerx for the latest in boating products, accessories and apparel.

5 Must Have Boating Items

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Chloe

1. Solar collectors

Thought those who support the green movement are mainly Gen Y? More and more national surveys show Gen X are doing a bigger than ever part in cultivating a life style of pursuing clean energy and promoting environmental protection. A popular device reflecting such life style on the water is the solar collector. A solar panel can keep the battery fully charged when the boat is on the trailer, at a mooring or sitting at her slip. A small unit of solar collector can help power your tools, gears, electronics and any lithium/NiCad/NiMH Batteries when you are out on the water you won’t have problems caused by dead batteries.

2. Portable Ice maker

Thought you need a pair of sagging pants to be cool looking? Let’s leave it for those cool kids. For Gen X, being cool is easy—invite your valued guests on your boat and know all your guests will have access to cool, no, cold drinks with unlimited ice anytime anywhere. Many contested that after having a portable ice maker, you will not live without one ever. Portable ice makers are electric, and some of them can operate on batteries. If you already have solar collectors on your boat, real ice will be truly never-ending to your demand.

3. Stainless Steel Thermo Bottles

Portable ice makers can be costly, but being cool is not an option, it’s a must. A well insulated stainless steel bottles with wide opening can do the trick for you. Add the ice in the bottle and seal the cap, your beverage is now set to be cold for hours. Well made bottles like the Gr8-White ones can also eliminate the dripping condensation on the outside of the bottle. Gone are the days of plastic bottles in a cooler. You are now saving money and saving the environment, and most importantly, super cool.

4. Boat Umbrella

This cool 6′ rust free marine grade stainless steel umbrella can be used on practically any boat or at the beach. The new product, Hydra Shade, has a reflective to the sun’s harmful UV rays and is rated over UPF 30. It is designed for use with any cylinder or rod holder opening, and offers a tilt and telescoping height adjustment. It is made to stay in place and remain in the cylinder by expanding the umbrella base. There are endless custom applications that can be adapted to your boating lifestyle.

5. Accordion Gangplank

The Gr8-White Accordion Gangplank is new addition to the market and makes the life of many of us boaters a lot easier. Gen X don’t usually like to yield to challenges but we always welcome new gadgets that are tested and proven to improve the quality of our life. For instance, it is not new to us that exiting their boat at the beach from the bow can be very challenging and dangerous. The good news is the 7 step fully anodized marine grade aluminum expandable accordion gangplank is designed to solve that problem. Simply bring your boat to the beach bow first, clip the Accordion Gangplank into the mounting brackets and you have an easy stairway to the beach. This gadget won’t keep you in the shade or keep your beverage cold, but when you show it off, it will keep you as cool as a cucumber.
 

2012 Florida Mini Lobster Season

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Chloe

Florida spiny lobster, the most scrumptious of Florida shellfish, draws tens of thousands lobster-hunting divers to Florida during lobster season each year. South Florida and the Florida Keys, boasting the most serene and crystal clear waters, are among the most popular destinations for lobster hunting. Visibility here can range as far down as 50 feet at times and weather conditions are perfect almost all of the time. We are expecting to see waves of lobster hunters coming in pretty soon as the mini season is approaching.

So what is a MINI Lobster season? Well, there are two Florida lobster seasons, the 2 day mini season and the 8 month regular lobster season. The mini lobster season is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. In 2012 the mini season falls on July 25th and 26th. It begins at 12:01 am on Wednesday and ends at 12:00 midnight on Thursday. A typical year draws about 30,000 lobster divers to the Florida Keys during those two days, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

For all scuba divers that have lobsters in mind, get ready with proper gears and get familiar with regulations. A fishing license is required. Each licensed fisherman has a six lobster limit per day. You cannot catch female lobsters with eggs, the carapace on the lobster has to be a minimum of three inches and they have to be measured in the water. Also don’t forget to check out our web-store and equip yourself with accessory items that will make your trip easier and more enjoyable.
Some people find lobster hunting on top of scuba diving very easy, some find it quite challenging. There’s people that’ll catch plenty of them, and people that won’t see any. But remember practice makes perfect. If you don’t have much luck at the mini season, or simply can’t make it at these two days, the regular 8 month lobster season is always August 6 through March 31.

 

Boating Accessories to Complete Your Boating Experience

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Chloe

Boating is becoming one of the most popular hobbies in the world, as more and more people appreciate spending time out at sea, a lake, or river. Boat accessories do not necessarily contribute to a boat’s functioning but are often added as items that enhance boating experience. Boating accessories have a variety of functions. They may be to help preserve and maintain the boat in good condition, such as a boat cover. They may be purchased to add extra security, such as backup batteries, first aid kit, floats, etc. Most accessories are to add convenience, such as a cooler or microwave. These days there are also plenty of accessories just to bring you an experience of fun and luxury–a DVD player, a swivel umbrella, a bow to boat ladder, a nautical GPS, the list is endless.

Boating Accessories allow you to gain maximum benefit from your boating experience. Check out our store and find what complements the boat you love. Don’t miss the Gr8-White Accordion Gangplank and the sustainable stainless steel water bottle!

The bow ladder that triumphs all bow to beach ladders

Posted on June 28, 2012 by admin

gr8 white bow to beach ladderIn the world of boating, the parts that you outfit your vessel with can make or break your boating experience. Thus is true when selecting an ideal way for yourself as well as your passengers to safely board and exit your boat. Gr8-White has come out with a bow to beach ladder that may be your ideal solution to this problem. There are many varieties of marine ladders available on today’s market, but only one bow ladder that separates itself from the competition.

Gr8-White, which has established itself as a premiere innovator in today’s market has recently released their new take on today’s bow to beach ladder. The Gr8-White bow to beach ladder has quickly become the bow ladder of choice for today’s avid boater. With its anodized aluminum lightweight construction that can withstand a maximum weight capacity of up to 300 lbs, the Gr8-White bow ladder will be the 1st and last bow ladder that you will ever have to purchase for your vessel. This ladder truly stood up to the elements, and our rigorous testing.

This ladder from Gr8-White is designed to be mounted on boats with a hull height of up to 70 inches. In the event that your hull height is taller, they do offer a ladder extension for purchase.

Because of its lightweight aluminum construction, Gr8-White’s ladder provides an effortless means of not only mounting, but storing the ladder as well. Unlike other ladders on the market today, the Gr8-White bow ladder folds into a 16”x14”x16” cube that can be stored in most conventional boat compartments out of sight.

Here at Xwerx, we proudly sell this ladder from as well as many other products offered by Gr8-White. If you are in the market for a safe way to for passengers to board or exit your vessel, the Gr8-White bow ladder is exactly what you have been looking for.

 

Gr8-White

Gr8-White Bow to beach Ladder for sale on Xwerxdirect.com

When To Fish? Information About Salt Water and Tides

Posted on June 15, 2012 by admin

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) has a lot of information on basic fishing knowledge. It is fun to review some tips from time to time. As we always want to know when is the best time to take the boat out and fish, here is some information here about salt water and tides.

In salt water, a shallow area that might hold fish and be a very good spot to fish during a high tide might be a bare mud bank during low tide conditions. Similarly, a slough that might be perfect for bottom feeding fish such as flounder during a low tide situation might be too deep and difficult to fish on a high tide. Running tides (rising or falling) are best since they cause bait to move and provoke active feeding among coastal fish.

Checking changing tides and the best times and areas to fish is also important when fishing in brackish water – coastal water that is a mix of salt and fresh, yet still affected by tides. Brackish water, common here in southwestern Florida, is found in most tidal creeks and rivers along all coasts and can affect both saltwater and some freshwater species. Tides raise and lower the water level approximately two times per day and affect where fish are located and how they feed. The timing of a high or low tide changes daily and is also different for each coastal area. The best fishing is almost always on a rising or falling tide – not the dead low or dead high when there is little or no water movement.

Since tides and movements are so important in saltwater and brackish water fishing, check for daily tide information is essential. You can find them in your local newspaper or at your local fishing shop. For southwestern Florida tide information, you can check this interactive tide chart for a given date at a specific location in the region. Highly recommended!

http://setanchor.com/news/setanchor/tide_map/

 

 

 

Keep Cool With GR-8 White Insulated Stainless Steel Beverage Bottles

Posted on May 3, 2012 by admin

Get Ready for Red Grouper Fishing

The temperate waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide a good year-round environment for a large number of catchable fish species. Naples has a semi-tropical climate that is home to Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish, along with numerous other species of hard fighting game fish. But right now, for those who like deep sea fishing, it is time to go after the red groupers. Groupers over 15 pounds are regularly being caught this month from 12 to 15 miles off the beach.

According to the National Weather Service, next week local temperatures will be in the high 70s and could reach high 80s later in the week. Heat emergencies can happen when staying too long in high humidity, high heat conditions without drinking a sufficient quantity of water.

A great way to ensure that you have an adequate supply of ice cold water on hand is to invest in an Insulated Stainless Steel Beverage Bottle from GR8-White. GR8-White beverage bottles feature a large opening for ease of cleaning and adding ice, they contain no plastic inner coating, and are BPA free. These dishwasher safe bottles ensure a stylish way to keep your favorite drink cool for hours out at sea, without the dripping condensation associated with most stainless steel bottles!

You can purchase your GR8-White Insulated Stainless Steel Beverage Bottles Here on our website.

So be prepared when you go out fishing on a boat, drink LOTS of cold water (at least 2 quarts to a gallon a day), and wear cool clothing, a hat and sunglasses. And now you are set to catch those big groupers!