The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 14 No. 36 - July 2, 2014

reel time

Exploring Pine Island

Fishing trips can be great adventures as most anglers know, but it’s important to enjoy the experience because the fish do not always cooperate. The mark of a good guide in my book is one that can show you a great day on the water, even if the fish don’t bite. Recently, I had just a trip in one of my favorite areas with Captain Joe Harley of Matlacha and Pine Island.

Pine Island and the estuarine environment that surrounds it is one of Florida’s richest ecosystems. Within miles of any point on the island you can get lost in a mangrove forest and visualize yourself a century in the past. The area has a huge variety of habitat ranging from oyster bar strewn flats, lush mangrove forests to remote bays and creeks. And while the island doesn’t feature any Gulf beaches, it’s only a short boat ride to the pristine clear water beaches of Cayo Costa and Captiva Islands.

Nestled just south of Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande, Pine Island is a slice of Florida that has to some extent escaped the commercialization so evident in the Sunshine State. That certainly has something to do with the fact that the island is bounded on all sides by Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound.

This is a blessing for an area the Calusa Indians called home for centuries and still bears evidence of their civilizations, which visitors can explor, in the form of great shell mounds. The sound also features picturesque fish houses that supported the commercial fishing industry at the turn of the century.

I made the trip to tarpon fish and while they didn’t cooperate Harley took me on a tour that reminded me of the areas varied natural resources. We had opportunities casting to tarpon and redfish, but as a bonus we also enjoyed the rich and varied flora and fauna including its plethora of seabirds and a rich pallet of opportunities for photographers.

We started the day by running to Johnson Sholes on the edges of Boca Grande Pass where we hoped to find tarpon that Harley had found schooling the past few days. When we arrived there, the tide was slack, and while conditions were excellent, the tarpon were not present.

Moving south we poled a sand bar on the north end of Cayo Costa where we had passing shots at a few fish that were close to the bottom, but hard to spot until they were right on the boat. Moving south along the Gulf we stopped and made several more casts at a school of uncooperative tarpon about half way down Cayo Coata.

Harley then moved into the backcountry on the west side of the island to look for baby tarpon. While we found a few tarpon in the backcountry, we couldn’t connect with any, but running the creeks and bays was a pleasure that I sat back and relaxed into. Next we rounded the north side of the island gassed up the boat, cooling off at a local restaurant with a cold beer and a snack.

We ended our efforts to tempt fish on a beautiful grass and sand covered bar near Matlacha where Harley often finds laid up tarpon. Once again, our quarry wasn’t present, but we did find and chase a bunch of skittish redfish. I had a number of good shots including a few that should have ended in bites, but the reds weren’t interested.

On the ride home, Harley took me to an area with a plethora of bird species including a pair of nesting American bald eagles. The opportunity to photograph birds in the late afternoon light made the ending to the day special and allowed me to explore one of my other passions.

While the fish didn’t cooperate that day it was still a fantastic time on the water in one of the prettiest places in Florida. If you’re an angler, a photographer, birder, or just someone who appreciates a distinctive environment, Harley can lead you on a trip that will fill your expectations. He can be reached by calling 239-443-7412 or visit his website at www.snooktown.com.


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