Name: Susan Watters Contact: swatters_at_cybereseas.com (I live in Cape Haze, FL) Boats: Dagger Magellan, Perception Swing (my summer play toy and fishing boat) Special Interests: computers, jazz, kayaking, bicycling, sailing Special Knowledge: computers, programming, web design, and a little about a lot of different things. I re-invent myself every 5 or 10 years and do something completely different. I've worked as an electronic technician, been a farmer, helped design political campaigns for some local politicians, been an entrepreneur of a couple of successful businesses, taught myself several computer languages and presently do programming, web design and consulting, and lead kayak tours occasionally. Strong Opinions: "Good leaders are hard to find so I'm following myself" Most Interesting trip: Yet to be taken - however, this summer took a trip with 'the guys'. We left the southern tip of Gasparilla Island (SW FLA) heading across Boca Pass toward Cayo Costa. It was during the Tarpon season and thousands of 80-170 pound tarpon were rolling all around as we paddled the 3/4 mile across the pass. We arrived at Cayo Costa and started around the island on the Gulf side. One of the fellows that was on the trip, a former Florida Park Ranger was telling us about being on a boat in the pass a couple of days previously and seeing a 10-12 foot hammerhead shark grab a 100+ pound tarpon, lift it into the air and virtually bite it in half. The idea of encountering a shark of that size as we paddled back across the Pass to Gasparilla Island at the end of the day weighed heavily on my mind the rest of the way around Cayo Costa. Fortunately, the trip was wonderful, and uneventful as far as sharks go - however, about two weeks later, a picture of a 14 foot hammerhead seen just offshore of Gasparilla Island, photographed by the sheriff's department, appeared in the Sarasota newspaper. I believe I'll stay out of Boca Pass during Tarpon season, from now on. Bio: Age depending upon the activity, 9 to 27 years of age, but the body says 59 (constant battle goes on here!) Born in Wisconsin, grew up in Florida, lived adult life in Tennessee, moved back to Florida and wonder why I ever left. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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