Father’s Day on Useppa 2017
Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin
The rain showers held off and the celebrations began. It was a chance for families to listen to music by the pool, to enjoy a Collier Inn special brunch, for old and new friends to share stories and laughter.
Hugs between generations, fathers and their children in the pool, a cool drink in a comfortable lounge chair, a boat ride to and from the island, are simple pleasures that a visit to Useppa makes possible.
Useppa Izaak Walton Tournament
June 3, 2017
Part II
Story and Pictures by UseppaGin
When we weren’t on the water, we gathered at the Tarpon Bar for directions, dinners, and a cold drink or two. Captains for Clean Water’s Daniel Andrews and Chris Whitman showed a video touching on the history of Useppa Tarpon fishing ending with a tribute to Island fisherman Cody Davis. Sepia photos and old Tarpon scales are souvenirs of a centuries old tradition. A picture of Cody Davis pays tribute to a fisherman who died just a few months ago.
Friday night was a casual dinner, a chance for old and new friends to get together. On Saturday morning at 5:30 breakfast goodies and picnic lunches were available. Saturday afternoon when fishing had ended, stories were told around the bar about the ones caught and the ones that got away. Winners were announced and a trophy photo taken.
1st Place: Kyle Scheid & Cole Calhoun with Captain Ozzie Lessenger
2nd Place: Donald Beckstead & Rich Morris with Captain Jeff Bankowski
Saturday night a Prime Rib Dinner was served and Calcutta awards were passed out. Tom Liber and Donald Beckstead thanked everyone on behalf of Useppa’s Izaak Walton Club, and announced that after expenses, all monies would be divided by Captains for Clean Water and the Tarpon Trust.
Useppa Izaak Walton Tournament
1 Tide
21 Teams, 16 Tarpon
Comments and Pictures by UseppaGin
Twenty-one of the area’s best fishing captains were teamed with forty-two Useppa fishermen eager to catch and Silver King. Men and women walked down the dock in still darkness, climbed on their boats and headed south toward Captiva or north toward the waters off Boca Grande. They weren’t disappointed. Tarpon were everywhere and sixteen were caught in Useppa’s one-tide 2017 Izaak Walton Tarpon Tournament.
1st Place: Captain Ozzie Lessenger, Kyle Scheid and Cole Calhoun with three Tarpon
2nd Place: Captain Jeff Bankowski, Donald Beckstead and Rich Morris with two Tarpon
Memorial Day Part II
Thoughts and pictures by UseppaGin
We don’t have a parade. There are no speeches. But we celebrate Memorial Day in our own way on Useppa.
The Cookie Brigade baked chocolate chip cookies for veterans and drew pictures to say thank you to the Island men and women who served our country. Alone or in small groups we remembered those who died in the military.
And then, a band played at the pool. The Collier Inn offered a brunch lunch. Boats came and went from the marina filled with people celebrating the holiday. Other boats dropped anchor or tied up at the Collier Dock.
Red, White, and Blue everywhere, Memorial Day weekend. Moments of remembrance and love filled hours of friends and family.
