By Capt. Carl Kelly
Many of our visitors, families and friends, who stay a short time would nevertheless like to get oriented to boating on local waters. For those people, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Collier County Environmental Services produced a “Boating and Angling Guide to Collier County.”
It touches all the bases. It has a basic map, though it is not for navigational purposes. There is information on speed zones, a catch and release fishing guide, notes on boating safety, Coast Guard equipment, protecting manatees, viewing wildlife and preservation of the waterways. The best part is it is free and available at marinas and libraries.
For those of us who live here and boat here regularly, the FWC/CCES “Guide” is helpful to have and to share with visitors. Please note this: No guide of this sort can replace a good basic boater safety course as offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Power Squadron.