Atlantic Current: The Water People Issue - March/April 2026
MARCH
3.01 DUB ZONE 2PM
3.05 ZACH DEPUTY 8PM
3.06 MELODY TRUCKS 8PM
3.07 ALLIANA BALITOVIS 3PM
3.07 JUKE 8PM
3.08 JOEY TENUTO TRIO 2PM
3.12 NATTALI RIZE WITH MINORI 7PM
3.13 FUNKIN’ GRATEFUL 8PM
3.14 BROTHERS AFTER ALL 7PM
3.15 JEFF LLOYD 2PM
3.20 NOUVEAUX HONKIES 8PM
3.21 VITAFUNK 3PM
3.21 FLOATING BRAINS 8PM
3.22 SAMANTHA RUSSELL 2PM
3.27 BLOSSOMIN’ BONE WITH DDRB 8PM
3.28 CLEMENT AUBREY 3PM
3.28 BRYCE ALLYN BAND 8PM
3.29 SPIDER CHERRY DUP 2PM
APRIL
4.03 ELECTRIC KIF 8PM
4.04 DUBBLE JAMES 3PM
4.04 YACHT LAVA 8PM 4.05 TRITONE TRIO 2PM
4.10 SOUL JAM 8PM 4.11 UPROOT HOOTENANNY 3PM 4.11 LIVE FEED 8PM 4.12 MICHAEL LEBON 2PM
4.17 TRU PHONICS & JOSH HEINRICHS 7PM
4.18 NOUVEAUX HONKIES 3PM 4.18 JOHNNY DREAD 8PM 4.19 BRYCE ALLYN DUO 2PM 4.24 SIGNAL FIRE & LAYTON MEACHAM 8PM
4.25 THE LEAFY GREENS BAND 3PM 4.25 UNLIMITED DEVOTION 8PM
4.26 JOEY TENUTO TRIO 2PM
EVENTS MARCH/APRIL 2026
YOGA, MUSIC & MOONLIGHT @ Old School Square Amp – Delray (6pm)
5
ZACH DEPUTY @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)
TAJ FARRANT @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (8:30pm)
KING TIDE RISING @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana
6
MELODY TRUCKS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)
BOYNTON BEACH FIRST FRIDAY CELEBRATION @ Centennial Park (5pm)
BRETT MICHAELS W/ TESLA @ Pompano Beach Amp (7pm)
FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK @ The Cornell/Old School Square (6pm)
MISCHIEF BAND @ ER Bradley’s – WPB (6pm)
7
MUSCLE ON THE BEACH CAR SHOW @ Old School Square – Delray (10am)
CHRIS PIQUETTE DUO @ Square Grouper – Jupiter (3pm)
THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)
INDIGO DREAMERS @ Downtown at the Gardens – Palm Beach Gardens (4pm)
7-8
36TH ANNUAL ARTFEST BY THE SEA @ Juno Beach (10am-5pm)
8 THE LIVESAYS @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (7pm)
UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ The Sticky Bun – Deerfield (10am)
9
WISHBONE ASH WISHLIST TOUR FEAT. ARGUS LIVE + FUNKY BISCUIT ALL STARS @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7pm)
11
BEATLE MAGIC @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (8pm)
CHASE STITES @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana
INDIGO DREAMERS @ ER Bradley’s – WPB (6pm)
12
MIRANDA LAMBERT @ Hard Rock Live – Hollywood (8pm)
DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT @ Old School Square — Delray (6pm)
BRYAN SMITH & FRIENDS @ Maxi’s Lineup – Jupiter (9:30pm)
BRYCE ALLYN DUO @ Leftovers Cafe – Jupiter (6pm)
12-15
BEATLES ON THE BEACH – THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES @ Mizner Park Amp
MELTDOWN @ Square Grouper – Jupiter (8pm)
GET THE LED OUT ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE @ Pompano Beach Amp (8pm)
14
UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Kahunas – Deerfield (10pm)
VERONICA SWIFT @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)
THE COVER LETTERS @ Maxi’s Lineup – Jupiter (9:30pm)
15
JEFF LLOYD @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (2pm)
IN THE AIR TONIGHT – TRIBUTE TO PHIL COLLINS & GENESIS @ Boca Black Box (8pm)
JOEY CALDERAIO & THE FUTURE BUDS @ ER Bradley’s – WPB (6pm)
16-20
SPRING BREAK CAMP @ Loggerhead Marinelife Center – Juno
17
JON ZEEMAN BAND @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana
19
THE SMITHEREENS W/ SPECIAL GUEST VOCALIST JOHN COWSILL @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (8pm)
DANIEL ERICKS @ Leftovers – Jupiter (6pm)
INSIDE OUT (THE MOVIE) @ Old School Square — Delray (6pm)
20-21
COMEDIAN KEVIN FARLEY @ Boca Black Box 2.0 (7:30pm)
20-22
PALM BEACH REGGAE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL @ Old School Square Amp – Delray (4-9pm)
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EVENTS MARCH/APRIL 2026
21
SPIRAL LIGHT @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (8:30pm)
FLOATING BRAINS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)
22
STEELY DAN TRIBUTE W/ DIRTY WORK @ The Studio @ Mizner Park – Boca (6:30pm)
23
SAVOR THE AVENUE @ Downtown Delray Beach
25
PAM & DAVE @ Maxi’s Lineup – Jupiter (9:30pm)
26
FOUR WAY STREET – THE MUSIC OF CSNY @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7pm)
MATISYAHU ANCIENT CHILD UNPLUGGED @ Boca Black Box (8pm)
MARK TELESCA @ Leftovers – Jupiter (6pm)
27
ERIC CHURCH @ Hard Rock Live – Hollywood (8pm)
SUPPER SUPPER
March 26 | 6 pm | LIMITED tickets
GAFIEIRA RIO MIAMI – BELEZA PURA @ Arts Garage –Delray (8pm)
JP SOARS & THE RED HOTS @ Northwood Art & Music Warehouse – WPB
LITTLE MOIR’S FOOD TRAILER AT PALM BEACH GARDENS GOLDEN EGG HUNT @ The Gardens North County District Park
28
BRYCE ALLYN BAND @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)
BOCA STREET FEST @ Mizner Park Amp – Boca (12-4pm)
SPRED THE DUB @ ER Bradley’s – WPB (6pm)
THE SOUL PROJECT NOLA @ Northwood Art & Music Warehouse – WPB
28-29
ART ON THE SQUARE Old School Square — Delray (10am)
29
BRIT FLOYD @ Mizner Park Amp – Boca (7:30pm)
THE LAO TIZER BAND @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (5pm & 7:30pm)
BOYNTON BEACH FIRST FRIDAY CELEBRATION @ Centennial Park (5pm) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)
FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK @ The Cornell, Old School Square, & Arts Warehouse (6pm)
THE HELMSMAN REUNION SHOW @ Maxi’s Lineup –@ Funky Biscuit – Boca (9pm)
THE CHILI POPPERS @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca
If you know us, you know coffee isn’t just on the menu; It’s at the heart of everything we do Our full espresso bar serves up classics like cappuccinos and cortados Every drink is made with care, and we even make our syrups in-house Every cup is crafted to our standards balanced, flavorful, and full of character
COFFEE BY DEN
We’ve teamed up with Pumphouse Coffee Roasters to create our very own Golden Juicery blend, developed specifically for our espresso bar to match our style and standards. The result is a smooth, approachable coffee that stands on its own and elevates any espresso based drink. We’re proud of this collaboration and we can’t wait to share a cup with you at the shop soon
Our seasonal specials shift throughout the year, inspired by the flavors we’re excited about From familiar favorites to unexpected twists, each cup is thoughtfully made to offer something new It’s a way for us to connect with our community through something we truly enjoy.
…to our advertisers who make this local mag you’re about to enjoy both possible and free. As you’ll notice, we’ve worked hard over the years to curate our sponsorships with businesses we know you’ll enjoy. They’ve become an integral part of our mag being one cohesive piece and we can’t thank them enough.
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in Downtown Delray BeachMadness March
A month of events you don’t want to miss!
Yoga, Music & Moonlight
Flow, move, and glow under the full moon
March 3 | 6 - 9PM | Old School Square
Dirty Dancing in Concert
Thursday, March 12 6 - 10PM
Delray Beach Amphitheatre at Old School Square
FREE MOVIE AT THE SQUARE
Monday, March 23
A one-night dining experience under the stars on Atlantic Avenue—five blocks, one unforgettable table.
Thursday, March 19
Inside Out
Movie starts at 6PM
Delray Beach Amphitheatre at Old School Square
Outdoor Fine Art Show
March 28 - 29 10AM - 4PM Old School Square
BLUE COLLAR BARREL CHASERS
Two First Responders Finding Balance in the Pursuit of World-Class Waves
BY DARIEN DAVIES
PHOTO: MANEA FABISCH
Some say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. But what about building a life that makes room for what you love in the first place?
Most of us squeeze our passions into the margins. A quick run before work. A chapter before bed. We fit them in around careers, kids, and responsibilities.
For South Florida surfers Matt Oberman, 45, and William “Skeeter” Zimmerman, 41, it works differently. They chose careers with structure and flexibility, built strong support systems at home, and shaped their schedules so when the swell lines up, they’re ready.
And when it’s time to go, it’s rarely for a casual surf trip. They chase heavy reef breaks and waves of consequence, with their eyes always on the horizon.
“Surfing is the best and worst drug in the world. It’s nuts. I’m literally a different person if I don’t have it,” Matt said. >>
FEATURE PHOTO: GAETAN CHARLIN
“What Matt and I are doing is a young man’s game and we have to stay fit. It’s very physical,” Skeeter said. “You can’t just say, ‘oh, I’ll just do it when I’m in my sixties and retired.’”
So, they are living their best lives now. These two watermen have crafted a life that revolves around the ocean, courtesy of their firefighter gigs.
Their childhood and early adulthood consisted of chasing after every wave they could, reaching a level where they were competing and securing sponsorships. Skeeter landed Quiksilver as a sponsor from his early teens through his late 20s. During those years, he launched Living Water Surf School while also working as a commercial fisherman before eventually joining the Boca Raton Fire Department. Matt also competed and secured multiple sponsors, including his current board sponsor, WRV. Prior to joining Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Matt worked as a lifeguard, a natural transition into public service.
For them, surfing was never about the money. It was about the waves. If there’s to be one constant, it’s oceanic pull. But there’s a slight issue with their love for surfing: Good waves are hard to come by in South Florida.
While they both agree that living in South Florida, wave-wise, is less than ideal, they enjoy the freedom that the fire department affords them, which is the ability to follow their endless summer.
Matt and Skeeter both have schedules of 24 hours on, 48 hours off, and use this flexibility deliberately. But in South Florida, their coworkers are likely trying to do the same thing, and there’s always an opportunity to swap shifts. When you account for their “on” work situation to be saving lives, giving back to the community, and putting out fires, their “off” situation is entirely the opposite. But it’s a perfect yin and yang for these two.
MATT OBERMAN (LEFT) AND SKEETER ZIMMERMAN (RIGHT)
“What Matt and I are doing is a young man’s game. You can’t just say, ‘oh, ‘I’ll just do it when I’m in my sixties and retired.’”
PHOTO: BORIS MARTINET
Matt and Skeeter both tout the awesomeness of their wives as a major contributing factor to their surfing success, as well as their fellow firefighters. It’s especially a big, lovely back scratching situation within their individual units because they all pitch in to pick up when someone needs to drop down.
To no surprise, they track buoy readings and swell models obsessively. When everything lines up perfectly, they trade their shifts, grab their go bag, kiss their family, and hop on the plane. And after this many “strikes,” they know exactly where to go, and aren’t telling.
“We, for the most part, stay off the beaten path. These locations that we know about that aren’t on the radar, we keep it to ourselves and we surf with just a couple guys or by ourselves,” Matt said. “Over the years, we’ve compiled our information and have a bunch of [go-to spots] where we don’t want to mix it up with fifty guys in the water and try to fight for waves.”
Quick trips could land them in the Caribbean or South America, but their go-to spots as of late include Fiji, Indonesia, and Tahiti. No specifics given, for obvious reasons, but they did recently surf Teahupo’o in Tahiti, widely regarded as one of the heaviest and most dangerous waves in the world. A thick Pacific slab breaking over razor-sharp reef with little margin for error.
Weeks, sometimes months, pass before the need becomes unavoidable. Even after scoring, the feeling only lasts for so long, and the chase begins again.
“We’re looking for very specific types of waves. And if you fly all the way to some location and you don’t get what you came for, it’s also a huge letdown for us,” Matt said. “And it shouldn’t be. Because you just want to enjoy the whole experience and the trip, but once you’ve had those types of waves, you want to duplicate that. You need that or better to be satisfied.”
Skeeter admits that he loves the chase and the hunt of finding new waves, but what he really loves lies deeper than that.
“The adventure and finding new waves and surfing with my friends with no one else around… I’ve been doing more of that in the last ten years than I ever have. I’ve actually gotten the best waves of my life in the past five years,” he said.
At the end of the day, Matt and Skeeter put their lives on the line as first responders to do what they love most – surfing. Both worlds demand commitment. Both carry consequences.
The job carries emotional weight. The kind that doesn’t clock out when the shift ends. “We have bad nights, we don’t sleep, you see things that are difficult. But it’s an incredible career. Not many other careers that allow you that freedom,” Skeeter said.
They are surfers at heart, and they’ve built a life that makes room for it, one trip at a time.
@skeeter_zimmerman
@matt_oberman
CAPTAIN CHRIS WITTMAN
THE DECADE-LONG FIGHT FOR CLEAN WATER >
BY HALEY DOCKENDORFF
In 2016, more than 200 billion gallons of water from Lake Okeechobee were released into the St. Lucie canal leading to the Atlantic Ocean. What followed resulted in the death of hundreds of fish and the destruction of entire beds of river grass habitats. Toxic algae blooms plagued the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers, and coffee-colored, contaminated water spread as far as Hobe Sound and Juno Beach.
During the height of fishing season, Florida’s West Coast had it even worse. For each discharge sent to the St. Lucie River, an equal or greater amount is sent to the Caloosahatchee River, leading to the Gulf. Toxic algae spread like wildfire through the wetlands and shorelines, making most water-based activities impossible due to the air’s extreme toxicity and neurological side effects.
For Captains Chris Wittman and Daniel Andrews of Fort Myers, these discharges to the West Coast were nothing new. But that year, something was different.
“This was the first time in our professional careers that it was crippling our business,” Chris said. “It was the wake-up call that if something didn’t change, the flats we fished our whole lives would not exist in the near future.”
From there, Daniel and Chris had decided they “had enough” of the way Florida’s water was being managed. Together, they co-founded a grassroots nonprofit based in Fort Myers dedicated to restoring and protecting our water resources, which became known as Captains For Clean Water (CFCW).
Their intentions were never to start a full-fledged organization, but even after 10 years, the fight for clean water is far from over. As they realized the sheer size of the roadblocks they would face, their organization grew to include lawyers, outreach specialists, expert fishing guides, and even content creators.
Their organization is run by Floridians across the state who share the same passion and drive to keep our water clean. Captain Mike Holliday of Stuart is just one of those team members, working from Jupiter to Vero Beach as an outreach and engagement coordinator and taking people on the water as a guide to educate them about the state of the rivers and waterways.
His choice to join CFCW felt like the natural thing to do. “You see the things you love being destroyed in front of you, and you either leave, or you fight,” Mike said. “It got to a point where it became time to fight.”
Mike first got his captain’s license in 1986 after a serendipitous runin with the then-New York Mets manager, who couldn’t find a fishing guide, and agreed to fish with Mike instead. The whole experience inspired Mike to become a part-time fishing guide, in addition to his lifelong career as a fishing writer and outdoor author.
Mike said the discharges have been an issue for as long as he can remember. After moving to the Jensen Beach area in 1978, the problem only got worse. With prolonged discharges, the freshwater volume coming from Lake Okeechobee is pushed back up the Indian River, diluting the water and killing the seagrass beds that thrive in saltwater.
Mike used to fish both the St. Lucie and the Indian Rivers, but now he’s forced to fish almost exclusively the Indian River or opt for offshore fishing. This is because of the layers of what he calls “muck” that have settled in the St. Lucie River.
CAPTAIN MIKE HOLLIDAY
>“You see the things you love being destroyed in front of you, and you either leave, or you fight,” Mike said. “It got to a point where it became time to fight.”
AERIAL VIEW OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE DISCHARGES SPREADING INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FROM THE ST. LUCIE INLET IN FEBRUARY 2025
PHOTO BY ED LIPPISCH COURTESY OF CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER
>“This isn’t just about fishermen. Clean water affects tourism, public health, real estate, and Florida’s economy,” Steve said. “If you live here, this fight impacts you - whether you fish or not.”
CAPTAIN STEVE MAGASSY
The polluted, untreated water from Lake Okeechobee that is discharged to both the East and West coast of Florida carries sediment that then settles in the estuaries, leaving behind feet of “muck” that seagrass cannot root in. Boats propellors stir up the sediment, leaving the water a consistent, murky brown. Between the minimal habitat and little to no visibility, fishing the St. Lucie River just isn’t worth it anymore, Mike told us.
These are the long-term consequences of how water flow has been managed in the state. Historically, the water from Lake Okeechobee naturally flowed south and was filtered through the “river of grass” as it moved through the Everglades and into the aquifers.
That all changed in 1928 after a hurricane raised the levels of Lake Okeechobee, creating a deadly flood that killed more than 2,500 people living south of the lake and devastated the farming community. To prevent future catastrophes and floods, The Army Corps of Engineers began construction of the Herbert Hoover Dike, halting the natural flow of water south. Now, these harmful discharges are the only way to lower the levels of the lake when they become dangerously high — for now.
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, or CERP, is a $10.5 billion, 35-year restoration program designed to be rolled out in several projects. It is a 50/50 partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District. Since Congress enacted it in 2000, only a handful of its restoration projects have begun construction, and even fewer have been completed. One of those projects, the EAA Reservoir, will provide a way to hold and filter the contaminated overflow of the lake before sending it south, but it has faced a multitude of threats and lawsuits since the project broke ground.
Chris says these projects are a main reason why CFCW exists. “We want to see Everglades restoration infrastructure projects completed. Once they’re completed, we need to continue to advocate and fight to make sure they’re operated to their maximum benefit,” he said. “We can build multibillion-dollar reservoirs, but if we don’t operate them to their full capacity, we’ll still continue to see these negative impacts.”
Those negative impacts affect more than inland waterways and fisheries. Captain Gary Lachman, owner of Blue Devil Fishing Team
based out of West Palm Beach, is a CFCW board member. He first got involved when he could no longer ignore the decline of areas he had fished for decades. Gary told us a big reason why he decided to join CFCW was because the group was “fishermen speaking up for the water, not politicians chasing headlines.”
Blue Devil Fishing Team’s other two founding members, Captain Steve Magassy and Matt Magassy, are also passionately involved with the fight for clean water. Just like Mike, Steve and Matt remember days when the fishing was more consistent, and the water quality was “noticeably better.”
“This isn’t just about fishermen. Clean water affects tourism, public health, real estate, and Florida’s economy,” Steve said. “If you live here, this fight impacts you - whether you fish or not.”
Along with their advocacy and education efforts, Blue Devil Fishing Team donates their tournament winnings to CFCW to support their mission.
“This industry exists because of the resource,” Matt said. “Reinvesting in its protection just feels like good stewardship.”
Captains For Clean Water may have started as just that — but this fight is not for fishermen alone. As water people, this is about our way of life, and it faces a constant barrage of threats from larger interests and corporations. The issues are complex and drawn out, which is why educating yourself about the fight for clean water is so important.
The best way to support CFCW’s mission is by becoming a member, but educating yourself and using your voice is even more important, especially now.
“People using their voices to let policymakers know how these issues impact them in an authentic way is extremely powerful,” Chris said. “It’s much more powerful than the lobbyists walking through the halls of Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.”
You can visit captainsforcleanwater.org to read more about their mission and sign up for their newsletter to better understand the current issues pressing Everglades restoration.
@captainsforcleanwater
BEAUTY AND THE BIOLOGIST
Beneath the Surface with Rosie Moore
BY AVA BOURBEAU
PHOTO: FRANK GIBSON
She does what she wants — and she looks good doing it — but water people know real value is found below the surface.
Maybe you recognize her from her time tracking shark species around the globe for Shark Week. Maybe you’ve seen her peacefully swimming with alligators during your daily doom scroll. Either way, you’ll have noticed Rosie Moore has an unmistakable presence that looks right at home in the water.
You’d even be forgiven for assuming that she was born and raised by the water. Really, she grew up in a small, landlocked Missouri town — only visiting Florida in the summers, but being so drawn to the water that she became SCUBA certified by the age of 10.
Rosie is a biologist, wildlife expert, master diver, and content creator with her Master of Science degree from Florida Atlantic University.
She’s known for her educational and conservation work with apex predators across habitats worldwide. On top of her scientific ambitions, she occasionally models, posing for photos deep in the Everglades or smiling with sharks.
Rosie is a vocal, ardent challenger of stereotypical perceptions of what a scientist can look like.
“I’ve always been a bit of a science nerd,” she added. “Even as a kid, I was asking for science equipment for my birthday.”
Her first wildlife job — working with baby wood storks in the Everglades — set everything in motion. It feels fitting that birds catalyzed Rosie’s career in a way — historically, birds have been catalysts of conservation and positive change in the Everglades and beyond.
What the Everglades lack in postcard drama, it makes up for in life. It’s an extremely biologically valuable habitat and is home to multiple endemic species. It’s also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist. The value is easy to miss if you’re looking for spectacle over substance.
“Most people do not realize how clean and clear the water actually is. I always joke that you could probably drink it if you had to. And despite its dangerous reputation, being out there does not feel dangerous or intimidating. It feels peaceful, quiet, and incredibly alive,” Rosie said.
Perhaps it was this fearlessness that inspired Rosie to dedicate her career to studying apex predators in aquatic habitats, whether she’s catching pythons in the Everglades or tagging hammerhead sharks in Costa Rica. She, like the Florida crocodile, thrives in both fresh and salt water.
Rosie’s work surrounds two main models: Scientist-Led Expeditions (SLEs) and citizen science.
“Each expedition reminds me why I love this work so much. Being in the water, collecting data, and helping protect the ocean never stops feeling magical,” Rosie said.
Rosie’s work doesn’t just live here in South Florida. Citizen science initiatives take her research all over the globe, from collecting water samples that help track great white sharks in the Mediterranean to allowing anglers to collect fin clips from bluefin tuna to help researchers at the University of Maine.
The project that stole her heart, however, was working with the SeaKeepers Society Marine Megafauna Foundation on their manta ray research right in Boynton Beach.
This unique foundation is dedicated specifically to protecting marine giants—apex and gentle alike. This project is the first of its kind in Florida, focusing specifically on manta rays.
PHOTO: FRANK GIBSON
The Foundation’s work studying the biology and ecology of manta rays in the area revealed there is a rare manta ray nursery habitat between Jupiter and Boynton inlets and, further, that many cases of anglers harming the animals occurred because they were unaware of their presence.
This site is one of only three known in the world.
“Most boaters have no idea it’s there,” Rosie said. “That’s why this work is so important.”
Another case of failing to look below the surface: a nursery overlooked by people moving too fast above it. The Florida Manta Project works with the community in its outreach efforts to help protect the manta rays from boaters.
“Being part of this effort, protecting baby mantas in our own backyard, feels both surreal and deeply rewarding, and it is a reminder of just how magical ocean conservation can be when science and passion come together,” Rosie said.
The research Rosie does with SeaKeepers aims to bridge the boating and yachting community with expert scientists and researchers, transforming everyday boating vessels into modern research platforms above the waves.
The Seabed 2030 project off Marco Island is just one example of their research model. By installing data loggers that collect ocean-depth data on recreational vessels, Rosie and other scientists can collect real-world depth data, helping create more accurate navigational charts, increasing boater safety.
Rosie’s work reminds us that the most extraordinary discoveries wait beneath the surface. She has built a career on diving below both stereotypes and swells, showing us that depth — in water and in people — is always rewarding.
@rosiekmoore
PHOTO: BRYANT TURFFS
NOAH WATERMAN
FLEGEL WATERMAN
BY BRIAN HALL
Ten years ago, Noah Flegel’s life revolved around a tow rope. Wakeboarding was the focus, the profession, and the metric by which success was measured. Training sessions were structured, competition schedules dictated travel, and progression meant landing the next trick. Today, that rope is just one thread in a much larger weave — one defined less by a single discipline and more by conditions, curiosity, and time spent moving with the water instead of against it.
“I used to be super focused on wakeboard competing and training,” Noah said. “But over the last five years especially, the shift has been into being more of an all-around waterman.”
For the now 28-year-old, that word “waterman” is not a title earned through accolades or social media clips. It’s a practical, almost utilitarian definition shaped by experience.
“To me, being a waterman means always being capable of taking advantage of the conditions,” Noah said. “If there’s wind, I can kite surf or wing foil. If there are waves, I can surf. If it’s flat and calm, I can dive or spearfish. The idea is being prepared for whatever the ocean gives you.” >>
PHOTO: MAX BLAKESBERG
That conditions-driven mindset has quietly reoriented his life. Surfing and foil boarding — or “foiling” — have become his preferred languages, not because they replace wakeboarding, but because they expand possibility. Foiling, in particular, unlocked days that once would have been written off. Windy afternoons, marginal swell, and in-between moments are now all suddenly playable.
“Foiling opened the door to so many days where you wouldn’t really want to surf,” he said. “But at the same time, surfing perfect waves is still the epitome of a good time.”
With that expansion of fun came a deeper relationship with fear. Ocean trips, especially to remote corners of the Bahamas, were heavy with anxiety. Stories of sharks, deep water, and unknown reefs kept him awake at night. Big-wave environments like the infamous Banzai “Pipeline” on Oahu’s North Shore and Jaws — a notoriously deadly break on the North Shore of Maui — demanded a recalibration of trust, both in the ocean and in himself.
“I’ve become a lot more comfortable with fear,” Noah said. “I’ve been in some really gnarly situations. Now I think back on those moments and tell myself, ‘I survived that. I can handle this.’”
That confidence is not swagger. It’s earned through experience, and tempered by realism. He’s quick to name the real danger in all of it: unconsciousness in the water. Near blackouts while diving and long hold-downs in heavy surf remain sharp reminders that progression always carries consequences.
Still, highlights rise above the fear. Surfing and recently foiling Jaws stand out as personal milestones, along with landing the worlds first strapless backflip on a foil in open ocean.
These moments weren’t chased for applause. “I just like pushing progression and having a good time,” he said.
As his relationship with the ocean has matured, another curiosity has surfaced. One that lives entirely on land: hunting, in which Noah finds an unexpected kinship with water sports. “It’s like spearfishing or surfing,” Noah said. “You’re putting yourself in the right environment, waiting for the opportunity. The reward is different, but the process is similar.”
Where the ocean is dynamic and constantly moving, land demands patience. Long hours of stillness. Reading wind not for swell, but for scent. Learning migration patterns instead of currents. “It’s slower,” he admits. “But it’s meditative. It teaches patience in a different way.”
That patience mirrors how Noah now approaches his days. There are no rigid routines, only phases. Stretching when his body asks for it. Training when motivation is high. Stepping back when it’s not. The one constant is water. “If I’m not in the water at least once a day, I start going a little stir crazy,” he said. >>
PHOTO COURTESY OF NAUTIQUE
“Try new things. Learn from anyone with more experience. And above all, study the wind.”
Ask him what advice he’d give someone 10 years younger, and the answer is refreshingly unpolished: Try new things. Learn from anyone with more experience. And above all, study the wind. Noah makes it clear: “I plan my week around the wind map. That’s what creates everything out there.”
It’s a fitting philosophy for someone whose growth hasn’t been linear, but expansive. Noah didn’t abandon wakeboarding, he built outward from it. Because being a waterman isn’t about mastery of one craft. It’s about readiness, respect, and knowing how to listen when the conditions speak.
@noahflegel
SEAFOOD RECIPES
Rest of the Fish Soup Reed Brand
Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market
Chef’s Note
Anybody who knows me knows I’m passionate about utilizing the whole fish and not wasting any part of the animal. After filleting a fish, there’s still an incredible amount of flavorful meat left on the skeleton and head. This recipe was created to show just how delicious, affordable, and approachable whole-fish cooking can be.
At my family’s market, Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market, we sell large snapper or tilefish heads with collars and cheeks still attached for about $1 per pound, and large grouper heads for around $2 per pound. All it takes is gently steaming or simmering the skeleton, and the meat pulls right off. Steaming or simmering keeps it juicy and makes picking the meat incredibly easy.
When prepared properly, it’s comparable to lump crab meat, tender, rich, and absolutely phenomenal. It’s also the part of the fish that makes people wonder why they’ve never used it before. This soup is comfort food, sustainability, and tradition all in one bowl — and a reminder that the more of the fish we use, the less we need to take.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
• 1 snapper or tilefish skeleton (about 5 lbs.)
*You’ll get roughly a 20% yield. That means a 5-pound skeleton will give you close to a pound of boneless, skinless white meat.
• Water (enough to cover skeleton)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 pat butter
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 - 4 medium to large potatoes, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• Paprika (not smoked)
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Cayenne pepper powder (optional)
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Method
1. Gently simmer the fish skeleton in water, just enough to cover it, until the meat is tender and pulls away easily.
2. Remove the skeleton and strain the broth into a separate pot.
3. Once the skeleton is cool enough to handle, carefully pick all the meat from the bones and set it aside.
4. Place a clean, dry pot on the stovetop over medium heat.
5. Add the chopped onion directly to the dry pot, allowing it to stick slightly and develop dark color on the bottom without burning.
6. Add a pat of butter to release the onion and scrape up all the flavorful fond from the bottom of the pot.
7. Pour the strained fish broth back into the pot.
8. Add the carrots, potatoes, and tomato.
9. Season generously with paprika, oregano, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (optional), salt, and pepper.
10. Stir well and let the soup simmer until the potatoes and carrots are fully tender.
11. Gently fold in the reserved fish meat.
12. Let the soup warm through, then adjust seasoning to taste.
13. Ladle into bowls and finish with a generous pinch of fresh cilantro.
Key West Pink Shrimp and Grits
Jimmy Everett
Driftwood
Chef’s Note
Our shrimp and grits has been a longtime staple in Driftwood’s kitchen. This recipe brings that familiar southern comfort made with local ingredients.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 30 min.
Ingredients
• 1 1/2 lbs. Key West Pink shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cups Marsh Hen Mill white corn grits
• 10 cups milk
• 3 cups white cheddar, grated
• 1 cup Pecorino Romano, grated
• 1/2 lb butter (reserve 2 Tbsp for shrimp)
• 1 cup shrimp or chicken stock
• 4 oz. Tempesta nduja
• 1 lemon
• 4 scallions
• Salt to taste
• Cooking oil of choice (for searing shrimp)
Method
Grits
1. Bring milk to a simmer, then whisk in grits.
2. Cook on very low heat for about 3 hours.
3. Stir and scrape the bottom every 5 to 10 minutes.
(You may need to add water if it gets too thick.)
4. Once cooked, add butter (reserve 2 Tbsp for shrimp).
5. Add cheddar and pecorino.
6. Whisk well until cheese and butter are fully melted.
7. Season to taste with salt.
Scallions
1. While grits are cooking, cut the green tops off scallions.
2. Roast green tops in a 400°F oven until charred through.
3. Thinly slice the white part of the scallions.
Shrimp
1. Once grits and scallions are ready, heat a large sauté pan to medium-high heat.
2. Season shrimp with salt and lightly sear in cooking oil of your choice.
3. Once lightly seared (but not cooked through), remove shrimp from pan and discard cooking oil.
4. Deglaze pan with shrimp stock.
5. Add nduja and remaining butter.
6. Reduce until sauce thickens enough to coat the shrimp.
7. Add shrimp back to the pan to finish cooking in the sauce.
8. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Yellowtail Snapper Francese Frank Murgio
Food Shack
Chef’s Note
Off-menu favorite at Food Shack — a white-tablecloth style dish without the stress.
Francese is a classic, versatile recipe and perfect for the at-home chef. Most homes have most ingredients in their pantry. This recipe can be used with your favorite fish and is perfect for a quick weeknight meal — simple, adaptable, fast, and elegant.
Serve with your favorite sides — white rice, angel hair pasta, and any vegetable you like (steamed green beans, broccoli, sautéed garlicky spinach, roasted asparagus). For something elevated, try risotto.
*You can add garlic, parsley and parmesan for more flavor
4. Add your flour-dredged snapper to the egg wash.
5. Heat olive oil and butter in a pan on medium-high heat until butter begins to foam.
6. Add snapper fillets to the pan until they reach a golden brown color.
7. Once the fish is just about cooked, remove from the pan and keep warm.
8. Add 1 Tbsp butter to sauté garlic and capers. Cook for 2 minutes, lightly browning garlic.
9. Deglaze with white wine & reduce for 2 minutes.
*You can add chicken broth to create more of a sauce
10. Add lemon juice and 2 Tbsp butter, adding butter a little at a time and whisking to create a silky sauce.
11. Add fish back to the pan & finish with chopped parsley.
Tequila Lime Sauce
Vinny Trupia
Guanabanas
Chef’s Note
I created this sauce more than 10 years ago, and it’s been a staple in my kitchen ever since. We use it on both fish and shrimp, and it’s one of those recipes that always finds its way back onto the menu.
When we’re developing new dishes, I’m lucky to have access to a large prep kitchen where I can get in, start playing around, and see what sticks. The Tequila Lime Sauce always felt like a natural fit. People love it. It’s intentionally not blended smooth — you can see and taste the texture of the vegetables, which is part of what makes it special.
Yield: ~2 cups
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 Tbsp yellow pepper, diced small
• 2 1/2 Tbsp red pepper, diced small
• 2 Tbsp fresh corn
• 3/4 tsp garlic, minced
• 6 Tbsp cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 Tbsp red onion, diced small
• 1 1/8 tsp fresh jalapeño, minced
• 3/8 tsp fresh thyme
• 3/4 tsp fresh oregano
• 1/8 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp paprika
• 1/8 tsp garlic salt
• 2 Tbsp tequila
• 2 Tbsp white wine
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp blended oil
• 3/4 tsp slurry
*slurry: Mixture of cornstarch and water used to thicken sauces
• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 Tbsp butter
Method
1. Heat blended oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Sauté all vegetables until softened and aromatic.
3. Deglaze with white wine and tequila.
4. Reduce slightly.
5. Add heavy cream, seasonings, and fresh herbs.
6. Bring to a light simmer.
7. Add slurry and lime juice, stirring constantly.
8. Simmer gently for 1–2 minutes, until lightly thickened.
9. Remove from heat, swirl in butter, and let cool slightly before serving.
