FISHING
55
TREASURE COAST BOATING
Jensen Beach has been a guide since
1985 and president of the Coastal
Conservation Association of Martin
County for the past 14 years. With nine
world records from some exotic destinations,
Wakeman is a fishing legend,
who has been a guide locally for four
world records. He speaks often and
loudly in defense of the Indian River.
“Two years ago we had knee deep
grasses and now there are none,” says
Wakeman. “Where are the fish going to
lay their eggs? It’s a limited resource.
Between overfishing, bad management
and politics the Indian River Lagoon is
a doomed estuary. The type of people
you meet (on charters) are conservation
oriented. They want to save the planet.”
Wakeman believes in the old saying,
“A fish is too valuable to be caught
only once.” And if you put it in the
freezer, it will get freezer burn and you
will throw it away later, he says.
“They pay me for the rods, reels, the
boat and me as a psychologist, educator
and shrink,” says Wakeman. “They
are on the boat for eight hours. They
can’t get away and I can’t get away. On
my boat a normal day is also an ecotour.
You never know what you will
encounter, relaxing with the beauty of
nature. You will learn about conservation,
birds, the fish and you might even
learn a Latin name or two.”
With rare exceptions, it is catch and
release on Wakeman’s flats boat in the
river. He recently took a couple fishing
offshore and when they didn’t catch
any fish, they went out the next day
on the river, catching two snook in
the legal slot. “Most people don’t care
about eating the fish,” he says. “We
killed two snook and I felt awful about
it. If you bleed the fish while it is still
alive and let the heart pump out the
blood it tastes so much better. Snook
is the mystery fish — like a Cuban
cigar. They’re just not that great. It is a
protected and highly regulated fish.”
Wakeman, who donates charters
every year to local charities, says he
doesn’t fish to put food on the table or
for the money. “I do it because I love
it. You won’t get rich. It’s that wonderful,
clean air. I’d rather be on the water
than just about anywhere,” he says
For now the fishing guides of the
Treasure Coast soldier on, working as
hard as they can under often difficult
weather conditions to bring fish to
anglers looking for an enjoyable day
on the Indian River.
Captain Rufus Wakeman cruises
his flats boat under the Jensen
Beach Causeway.
GREG GARDNER