Channel Edge Charters

Early December 2005 Florida Fishing Adventure

By

Captain Charles Crue  

Channel Edge Charters

It was late October when we had an early introduction into winter in the form of snow. On that day, as I saw the snow coming down I thought, “It is here already – winter”. It was then that I decided to do something I had not done the past few years, travel down to Florida and try some early December fishing. I asked my wife if she would like to go but she said she preferred to stay here telling me to go and just enjoy the warmth and fishing. So I did.

I thought fishing folks might enjoy reading about my low cost, low key, warm weather fishing experience. So, here it is.

I was going to make it a low cost trip. Maybe fish a day or two with a friend in the area and then just “wing it” and do some beach wade fishing. I had accumulated frequent flyer miles, hotel points to minimize expenses, plus some fishing articles on fishing the area. I chose Fort Meyers as my lodging location. From there I could fish the area from Estero Island, Sanibel, Pine or further north. I was already familiar with Lovers Key on Estero Island, having spent time fishing there a few years ago while my wife enjoyed the warm beach. I also planned to do some exploring of other areas. I decided to try wading some flats areas. I had a week to spend and decided to enjoy the warm weather and relaxed fishing. I had just finished a busy season chasing shad, stripers and bluefish in the Merrimack estuary area and thinking of some low key fishing was appealing.

I contacted a friend, Tom, who lives in Englewood. He has a flats boat. We agreed to fish a day or two in his area near Boca Grande. He enjoys the same kind of fishing as I do, inshore shallow water where he gets redfish, snook and sea trout.

I packed one 8 WT Sage TCR fly rod and a Sage medium action spinning rod. I selected some flies based upon some of the fishing articles and a few lures. For the fly rod I took a fast sinking line and a floater. Now I know that I should have taken an intermediate fly line. The sinking line was too heavy for the shallow waters and the floater was difficult to cast in the strong winds I experienced. It turned out that I used the spinning rod most of the time. If I had a boat it would have been more use of the fly rod. (next time I think I will rent a boat).

I did my first fishing off the beach in the late afternoon, at Lovers Key, soon after checking in at my hotel in Fort Meyers. Using the fly rod I caught one small jack crevalle and some small pinfish using a small white fly.
The next day, Sunday, I decided to go to Sanibel Island. It was a beautiful morning. I stopped at the only tackle shop, located just over the bridge (which has a $6 toll). I asked about fishing in the area without a boat. He suggested going into the Ding Darling Refuge and either renting a kayak or canoe or taking the drive through the preserve and fishing at the bridges since there was an outgoing tide. The bridges are over culverts that allow the tide to drain off of the marshy area. I checked the water at the canoe rental and found out that the area that could be fished was limited because of the low outgoing tide. So, I opted to do the drive. I found many likely spots but there were bait fishermen there already.

I did try a couple of spots without success and actually broke my spinning rod trying to free a lure snagged on some heavy coral. After that I just did the drive, enjoying the rural setting. I came upon a crowd at one of the bridges. A ranger informed me that there was a rare American Crocodile down near the water. There was! I got a nice photo of the ten or twelve foot long creature.

After I left Sanibel I noted a nice flats area just over the bridge on the Fort Meyers side. The guy at the tackle shop had told me it was a good place to wade around the low tide. I thought I would give it a try one day. I fished Lovers Key beach again with no success.

I called my friend Tom, and we made a date to fish in his area near Boca Grande on Tuesday. I got up early that day because it looked to be a hour-and-half drive and we agreed to meet at the state boat launching facility near the bridge out to Boca Grande.

It was raining when I left the hotel but I managed to find my way and arrived at the meeting place within a few minutes of our agreed time. The weather was warm but overcast with showers in the area. We headed out in Tom’s 17 foot flats boat. Tom provided spinning gear and lures. I brought my fly rod but as it turned out my line was just too heavy for the shallow water we fished. Tom lamented about slow sea trout action over the preceding days. However, it turned out that we enjoyed some good seat trout action. We caught and released several.

There was one sea trout hook up that I will remember. Tom was playing the fish to the boat as I watched. As the fish was brought near I was going to get a photo. As I watched the trout there was a sudden surge of a larger fish. It grabbed the trout and pulled as Tom pulled with his spinning rod. It was a draw. Tom got half of the trout. The attacking fish, that Tom thought was a big bluefish got the other half.

We also brought some 18-22 inch redfish to the boat before release. The lures that worked were white or red sluggo types rigged with jig heads or without the head when in very shallow water. The rain began moving in the afternoon so we called it a day.

At the take out ramp we saw a very nice and expensive airboat being loaded. It was Roland Martin of ESPN and fishing video fame. He had been filming a show, I guess. I took a photo but unfortunately my camera battery had died.

The next day I decided to fish the flat located just before the bridge to Sanibel Island. When I arrived I found two guys preparing to wade out. One was going to use a fly rod, the other a spinning rod. They told me that had done pretty well the day before. It was bright and windy. The water was murky due to pumping of hurricane water from Lake Okeechobee. I saw mullet leaping here and there as wade out. The bottom was soft and mucky in places but there were shallow bars with firm footing. I worked my way out making casts here and there. I soon had a nice hit on a weighted white sluggo (the same one I often use for stripers). It was a nice sea trout. I caught several of them that day and had a snook on but lost it. It was very enjoyable wading with only shorts and wading boots in the warm water.

I had less fishing success the remainder of the week but enjoyed the warmth and some fine dinners at local restaurants. One of my favorites was the Bridge Restaurant located just before the going over the bridge from Fort Myers to Estero Island. It over looks the bay side between Estero and the mainland and has a spectacular view from the open dining deck.

I arrived home Sunday to find the area covered with 15 inches of snow. It looks like it will be a long winter!