Small, weird-looking, but very tasty –even raw–and very easy to capture. Only available in the summer and early fall and never in a seafood market. You and your family must be hunter/gatherers …
Explore the HMS Winchester with Capt. Lars Vihlen, March 18th, Islamorada
18 Mar 20153:30 AM
The History of Diving Museum in Islamorada hosts Capt. Lars Vihlen as part of the Museum’s Immerse Yourself! seminar series.
In 1695 only two years after she was built, the crew of the HMS Winchester were struck by scurvy. With the death of many and her crew greatly weakend she wrecked on a reef just south of Carysfort Light. Her remains are visible in 28 feet of water inside Penekamp Park.
The Winchester, a British man-of-war, was 121-feet in length. She had a beam of 38 feet and carried 60 guns. Almost all of her 400 crew were lost, mostly to disease.
The presentation is open to the general public. Admission is free to Monroe County residents and Museum members and $10 for visitors. Pre-seminar museum tours will be conducted at 5:15pm and 6pm. Museum tours are included with admission. Members may reserve their seats in advance.
The History of Diving Museum is located at: 82990 Overseas Hwy about one mile north of the Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey Outpost.
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![](mailto:?subject=Explore the HMS Winchester with Capt. Lars Vihlen, March 18th, Islamorada&body=The <a href="http://www.divingmuseum.org/">History of Diving Museum </a>in Islamorada hosts Capt. Lars Vihlen as part of the Museum's Immerse Yourself! seminar series.
In 1695 only two years after she was built, the crew of the HMS Winchester were struck by scurvy. With the death of many and her crew greatly weakend she wrecked on a reef just south of Carysfort Light. Her remains are visible in 28 feet of water inside Penekamp Park.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hdm-flyer-03182015-winchester.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2652" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hdm-flyer-03182015-winchester.jpg" alt="HDM-flyer-03182015-Winchester" width="220" height="228" /></a>
The Winchester, a British man-of-war, was 121-feet in length. She had a beam of 38 feet and carried 60 guns. Almost all of her 400 crew were lost, mostly to disease.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hdm-flyer-03182015-capt-vihlen.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2653" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hdm-flyer-03182015-capt-vihlen.jpg" alt="HDM-flyer-03182015-Capt Vihlen" width="320" height="202" /></a>
The presentation is open to the general public. Admission is free to Monroe County residents and Museum members and $10 for visitors. Pre-seminar museum tours will be conducted at 5:15pm and 6pm. Museum tours are included with admission. Members may reserve their seats in advance.
The History of Diving Museum is located at: 82990 Overseas Hwy about one mile north of the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/florida/islamorada-fl/islamorada-fl-overview.html">Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey Outpost</a>.
For more information on the <a href="http://www.divingmuseum.org/">History of Diving Museum</a>
For Fishing with Guy Harvey Outpost: <a href="http://www.ghofish.com/">www.ghofish.com</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost & their great resorts: <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/" target="_parent">http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/</a>
For the Guy Harvey Outpost Blog <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com/" target="_parent">www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost" target="_parent">https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/GHOutpost" target="_parent">https://twitter.com/GHOutpost</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/explore-the-hms-winchester-with-capt-lars-vihlen-march-18th-islamorada/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Join A Live Summertime Easter Egg Hunt in Florida’s Big Bend&body=Small, weird-looking, but very tasty --even raw--and very easy to capture. Only available in the summer and early fall and never in a seafood market. You and your family must be hunter/gatherers to harvest them. They're bay scallops-- the premier mollusk of Florida's Gulf coast Big Bend region. And there's still plenty of time left to catch your share.
"So far, the season's been excellent," said Steinhatchee charterboat captain Bob Erdman. "Limits every day in three to four feet of water."
Erdman wasn't kidding. Last week, he and wife Carole guided my friend Kyle Stewart and me to gather our boat limit of eight gallons. It took us a little bit longer than last year because the region's scallop counts are down, but that just extended the fun.
The captain opted for the scallop grounds about five miles north of the mouth of the Steinhatchee River. His reasoning was simple: thousands of hunters have been plucking the grass beds to the south since the season opened on June 16, so hunting north might produce bigger shellfish.
As usual, Erdman was right. Snorkeling above the mixed turtle and manatee grass with mask and fins, I didn't spy as many of the little flying saucer-looking animals as last summer, but the ones I found were definitely larger with barnacle-encrusted shells.
"Those may be last year's scallops," Erdman said.
Harvesting them couldn't be easier. You just reach down and pick them up. Their weak escape attempts consist of clapping their double shells together clumsily. This is basically an underwater Easter egg hunt where the 'eggs' sometimes try in vain to get away. Kids as young as five can do it.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_1305.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4836" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_1305.jpg" alt="" width="3264" height="2448" /></a>
Best places to hunt are in mixed patches of sand and grass where the grayish-white shells are easiest to spot. Sometimes they'll be nestled in the sand; other times, you'll find them perched on blades of grass. Erdman advises scouring the bay bottom closely for the ridged shell's profile.
The hunt itself is entertaining even if you don't spot scallops every two minutes. You'll encounter schools of mullet and pinfish, sea stars, and occasionally a stingray. I came upon a small ray while hunting; it bolted in the opposite direction when it saw me.
A few safety tips: boats must display a red-and-white diver-down flag while scalloping and divers must stay within 300 feet of it in open water and within 100 feet in a river, inlet or channel. Boaters must slow to idle speed when they draw close to the flag.
The bag limit is two gallons of whole scallops or one pint of meat per person, with a maximum of ten gallons whole or 1/2 gallon of meat per vessel. The season runs through Sept. 10 in the Steinhatchee area. If you plan to hunt in the St. Joseph Bay area to the north, the season opens July 25 through Sept. 10. In the popular Homosassa - Crystal River area, the season opened July 1 and closes Sept. 24.
To book a scalloping trip with captain Bob Erdman, call 352-356-2554. Rental boats and accommodations are available at Good Times Motel and Marina (352-498-8088) or Sea Hag Marina & the Shacks at Sea Hag (352-498-3008). Both facilities also are staffed with scallop cleaners who charge $7-$8 per pound. Have your scallops prepared and served with an array of sides at Kathi's Krab Shack (352-498-0605) or do it yourself. Hint: cook them anyway you want-- just don't overcook them.
For a complete rundown on scallop seasons and regulations in Florida, go to <a href="http://www.MyFWC.com/Fishing">MyFWC.com/Fishing</a> and click on "Saltwater Fishing", then "Recreational Regulations" and "Bay Scallops". https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/join-a-live-summertime-easter-egg-hunt-in-floridas-big-bend/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=A Paddle Trip Even Lewis & Clark Would Have Skipped&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3016 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/paddle.jpg?w=300" alt="paddle" width="300" height="267" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
Paddling the marshy interior of Everglades National Park makes you feel like you are the first one ever to explore the region. You won't see any humans other than your companions. You won't encounter much trash, save for a stray deflated Mylar balloon here and there. The only mechanical sounds you'll hear come from the occasional small airplane overhead. You come to truly appreciate the exquisite natural beauty of this vast 1.5-million-acre wilderness known as the "River of Grass". And you will really, really wish that it was more river and less grass--especially after 22 miles of slogging in a single day.
A group of about 20 men and women whose names will be withheld to protect the uncertain status of their mental health embarked on Halloween on what was supposed to be a day-long exploration of Taylor Slough extending from the park's Homestead entrance southwest to Nine Mile Pond near Flamingo. The trip was the brainchild of a veteran local Everglades explorer we'll call "Tom" who leads these out-of-the-way paddling adventures annually, dubbed "Invitationals". "Tom" never follows the trails on park brochures, instead mapping out his routes using Google Maps and GPS.
Setting out before dawn in canoes and kayaks from an airboat trail that used to be the Ingraham Highway pre-dating the park's 1947 establishment, the group pushed, pulled, poled and paddled for hours through thickets of spikerush, sawgrass and periphyton -- a spongy algae variously described as elephant snot or monkey puke. It actually smells pretty good, kind of like PineSol. But it is no fun to navigate, especially when your paddle blades catapult thick wads of it onto you and your boat. Unseasonably warm temperatures and very little breeze added to the discomfort.
The going was so slow through the shallow water and dense grass that the group hadn't covered even half the distance by the time we stopped for lunch in a small patch of shade beside a tree island.
While everyone was breaking out their water bottles and lunchboxes, one paddler suddenly flipped upside down in his kayak. At first, I thought he'd been startled by a snake or something. But when he didn't crawl out from under the kayak right away, several people nearby leapt from their boats, pulled him out of the water and righted his boat. He was conscious, but pale and dazed.
One of his rescuers, fortunately, was a physician who checked him out, pronounced a touch of heat exhaustion, and said he would be fine after taking in electrolyte fluids. But he was too run down to paddle much, so he took my spot in the bow of Tom's canoe and I took over the kayak.
I would like to say the trip became easier, but only in small increments. Water levels rose a bit higher as we neared Craighead's Pond-- site of a raised platform and defunct science experiment. But after a couple more miles, I was growing tired from the drag of the grass and the constant shipping of slimy algae into the kayak.
To no one's surprise, the sun set and the sky grew dark well before we entered the mangrove labyrinth of Nine Mile Pond. Nearly everyone had headlamps or flashlights and GPS units that tracked true, so there was little chance of getting lost. But of course, hordes of mosquitoes and gnats appeared as soon as the light faded, making an uncomfortable journey even worse. At least the air cooled off.
But with about five miles yet to go, I was pretty exhausted. At our next rest stop in the dark, I traded the kayak to a young woman triathlete in exchange for her seat in her uncle's canoe. Paddling in the bow with him in the stern felt like a spa day compared to mushing in the kayak.
With no further misadventures, the entire group somehow arrived safely at the Nine Mile Pond parking lot about 8:45 p.m.-- a distance of 22 miles in 13 1/2 hours.
As we made landfall, my canoe partner began whistling the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah"-- wrong holiday, but an entirely appropriate anthem under the circumstances.
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Sue Cocking chronicles the Guy Harvey Outpost travel and adventure experience in regular blog posts on GuyHarveyOutpostNews.com/. For 21 years, Cocking covered the full spectrum of outdoors adventure opportunities in South Florida and beyond for the Miami Herald, including fishing, diving, hunting, paddling camping, sailing and powerboat racing. She is a certified scuba diver and holder of an IGFA women's world fly fishing record for a 29-pound permit.
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Share your photos, videos and experiences with Guy Harvey Outpost by hash tagging #OutpostAttitude to all of your social media posts. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/a-paddle-trip-even-lewis-clark-would-have-skipped/){kind=link}
 is the newest member of <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts & Lodges' </a>Expedition Collection. The Ms B Haven, mother-ship & fleet are based in Panama City, Panama and available for charter in both the Caribbean and Pacific. “Panama is an adventure travel paradise and a destination without equal for world class sportfishing and island hopping," commented Guy Harvey Outpost President, Mark Ellert announcing the new partnership. “Instead of settling for a single location, this Outpost offers the best of all worlds - a fleet of rooms that can move around this amazing country. Whether it’s offshore big-game fishing in the Pacific, backcountry fishing along the Caribbean coast, exploring the Canal Zone, or discovering the remote and beautiful Pearl and San Blas Islands, there’s literally something of interest for everyone and PYFC Outpost can take you there.”
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/98-tri-deck-motor-yacht.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2526 size-large" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/98-tri-deck-motor-yacht.jpg?w=550" alt="Ms B Haven" width="550" height="367" /></a>Ms B Haven, fish in luxury by day and lounge in your private fishing lodge by night.
Fishing from a mother-ship allows you the freedom to fish legendary places like Pinas Bay and Hanibal Bank or explore the idyllic San Blas archipelago. The PYFC Outpost fleet includes a 98’ tri-deck motor yacht, two sportfishing boats – a 66’ Buddy Davis and 37’ Strike – and a flats skiff. The mother-ship carries a complement of water-toys, jet skis and a complete dive center.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cherin-iii-2-low-res.png"><img class="wp-image-2524 size-large" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cherin-iii-2-low-res.png?w=550" alt="Cherin III at anchor in Panama." width="550" height="263" /></a>Cherin III at anchor in Panama.
Owned by a Florida based fishing enthusiast, the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/beyond/panama-yacht-and-fishing-charter.html">Panama Yacht & Fishing Charters Outpost </a>is operated by South Africa native Hennie Marais, considered one of Panamas’ most respected sportfishing outfitters and lodge operators. “We have assembled a group of captains and crew to rival any tournament caliber sportfishing team you’ll find stateside”, notes Marais. “The Buddy Davis and Strike are equipped with all the best big-game tackle, and the mother-ship is our luxury lodge that is never far out of range when it’s time for lines-out.”
Panama native and seasoned sportfishing Captain Yasser “Jacko” Torres runs the Buddy Davis. Adds Marais, “experience and communication in the cockpit are essential to consistently catching big fish and having fun and PYFC Outpost has that covered. Jacko and his crew have all the requisite tournament credentials and are fluent in English, French and Russian, as well as Spanish, so anglers from all over the world will certainly enjoy their time with us.”
In commenting on the newest Expedition Collection property, Outpost co-founder and <a href="http://www.igfa.org/">IGFA</a> trustee Bill Shedd compared the new PYFC Outpost to long-range fishing operations common to southern California, where his company <a href="http://www.aftco.com/">AFTCO</a> is based. “While I’ve enjoyed many long range fishing trips, and you can always move around to find fish, they seldom have the space, amenities and comfort to bring along the family or business associates. Our new PYFC Outpost eliminates that problem, without question. Fish or fun, dive or sun. You decide, but its top-of-class”.
The PYFC Outpost fleet accommodates up to twelve guests and is available for three and six day charters, with customized float plans based on cruising or fishing preferences. For charter information, contact Guy Harvey Outpost toll free at 1.800. 513.5257 or visit <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">www.GuyHarveyOutpost.com</a>.
For More Information:
For Fishing with Guy Harvey Outpost: <a href="http://www.ghofish.com/" target="_parent">www.ghofish.com</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost & their great resorts: <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/" target="_parent">http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/</a>
For the Guy Harvey Outpost Blog <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com/" target="_parent">www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com</a>
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