If you go saltwater fishing in this state, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) researchers want to learn about your experiences and opinions through the new online Florida Saltwater Fishing Panel. Anyone with a valid Florida saltwater fishing license or Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting and Fishing License, as well as exempt residents age 65 and older, can sign up to take part in the panel, which begins this summer.

Registered panel members will be asked to complete one web-based survey per month for a one-year period. The surveys will each take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. While most of each survey will focus on the angler’s last saltwater fishing trip in Florida during the previous month, surveys may also include questions about current or proposed fishing regulations, licenses, conservation of fish stocks and management effectiveness.

BY MELISSA LATERZA - Michigan is shaped like a mitten and it gives Gary Cross a reason to laugh while describing his home state.

“I miss the hunting season and the change of seasons in the fall. I don’t miss shoveling snow, and being stuck indoors. I like being able to go down to the beach and cool off here when it’s too hot.”

Gary Cross had his first taste of boating and fishing on the eastern shore of Muskegon, Mich., where he and his family of five would spend time camping and hunting. The name Muskegon means “marshy river or swamp,” given by the Ottawa Indians, and the town is also known as the Lumber Queen of the World.

John L. Montgomery, 92, of Naples and Venice, died July 13, 2012.

John was born January 11, 1920 in New Orleans, La. to Elizabeth (Walpole) and William Montgomery. John operated the Temptation Restaurant in Boca Grande.

Survivors include three children: Karen Scileny of Naples, Richard Montgomery of Orlando, and Maureen Henry of Sarasota; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., on Friday, July 20 at Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 21 at Epiphany Cathedral with burial immediately following at Venice Memorial Gardens.

To send condolences, visit farleyfuneralhome.com.

To the Editor:

The PTTS will never understand how we feel. The people who plunder for gain will never understand those who grew up loving it and striving to protect it. They will never understand what it feels like to be a little girl catching her first tarpon with her daddy, nor the joy that it brought to her daddy’s face. They will never understand the men who come from generations of fishermen who have captained these waters and provided for their families giving thousands of people the thrill of their lives, fighting the great silver king. They will never understand the quiet pride these men have for the Pass and for each other. They will never understand how considerate, protective or passionate these captains are, because they have done nothing but come into the area with a complete disregard for it’s history. They cannot understand the look in their father’s eyes when he realizes the truth of it’s deterioration. They will never understand being from a place where once you have left it, it lives in your heart forever. They will never understand the sense of community or family, nor our fierce desire to protect it. And so we keep fighting until we conserve and protect our heritage. Period.

Susanne Darna Dudley

Tallahassee (formerly of Boca Grande)