by Tom Schlichter
www.thefisherman.com
Captain Rob Modys flashed a wide smile as Felicia Scocozza stuck the point to a solid redfish and struggled to keep it clear of the mangrove forest that reached out menacingly from the hidden shoreline. “Nice job!” he called out as Felicia first out-muscled the fish, then guided it away from an oyster encrusted stickup. Following a pair of solid runs, the six-pound copper delight eventually relented, posed cooperatively for a quick round of photos, and was gently released.
“That’s exactly the kind of fish you can expect with the back country action here on Estero Bay,” said Modys, who runs SoulMate Charters (www.soulmatecharters.com) out of Fort Myers Beach, FL. “We’ve got plenty of these fish around and they give a great account of themselves, but there’s more to tangle with in this part of Florida than most visitors realize. You’ll find sea trout, snook, sheepshead, pompano, jacks, ladyfish, grouper and even tarpon within a short ride at some point in the season. All this variety is one of the reasons I love being out here day after day.”
Modys may have been enjoying both the fishing variety and warm breeze as he slid the lively red back into the green-hued waters, but I assure you no one was happier to be casting along Florida’s west coast than Felicia and I. Our plane had been scheduled to depart from New York’s LaGuardia Airport the morning following Nemo’s battering, and we had to shovel through two feet of snow, chain saw some trees, push a plow and negotiate a single open lane on the Long Island Expressway for over 30 miles to reach our south-bound flight. That we made it at all to the idyllic ‘Tween Waters Inn, on lovely Captiva Island, was no small miracle. Finding our hosts so welcoming and the local waters abundant with fishing opportunity simply sweetened the pot.
“Lee County – the Fort Myers area and Sanibel and Captiva islands – really has a lot to offer,” explained Lee Rose of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau over dinner at ‘Tween’s elegant Old Captiva House after we had settled into our accommodations. “It’s a family oriented area with miles of white sand beaches and plenty of outdoors fun to sample. You can try shelling, kayaking, biking, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, take a dolphin cruise, explore the remarkable J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, shop, dine, practice photography and even enjoy
hermit crab races. All this, and our fishing is first rate, too.”
Indeed, it’s all there, easily accessible, generally affordable and just waiting for you to make the first move. There’s no doubting that Sanibel and Captiva, especially, sport tourist-based economies, but they’ve managed to do so in a friendly, ecologically smart way that draws both snowbirds and other Floridians for vacation – true testimony this area is worth a look.
“One good thing about fishing these back waters should you come for a visit,” explained Modys, “is that you don’t have to go overboard with tackle. Live shrimp, new-penny colored Berkley Gulp! shrimp or pumpkinseed pattern Gulp! mullets impaled on a 1/8- to 1/2- ounce jighead will get the job done at the terminal end while a seven-foot spinning rod matches most back country fishing possibilities.”
Generally speaking, rods for this fishing should have fast-action tips for sure hooksets. Choose a medium heavy version so as to not be out-gunned if a big snook or 20-pound redfish grabs your offering. Local anglers favor 20-pound braided line with a three-foot length of 30-pound-test mono leader. If using a popper cork ahead of a live shrimp or jighead and soft plastic combo, keep the leader length below the cork short – 14 to 18 inches - when working tight to the mangroves for redfish. If working in channels or flats further off the shore, as is common when hunting sea trout, a three-foot leader beneath the cork works best.
I’ve got to say that I doubt we could have picked a better home base for our trip than ‘Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Island (www.tween-waters.com). To be sure, the service was great, the pool had a Tiki bar, there were two terrific restaurants on the premises – Old Captiva House for fine dining and the more casual Crow’s Nest - plus a tackle shop, marina, gift shop, bike/kayak/paddle board rentals and clean, comfortable efficiency rooms or small cottages from which to choose. Still, the closer proved to be the location. Nestled ‘tween Pine Island Sound on the east side and the Gulf of Mexico on the west, the fishing possibilities within walking distance alone came close to making my head explode.
With limited time, I tried to stay focused on the back country possibilities, tempting snook and saltwater catfish from the marina dock with soft plastics whenever I had some down time, then taking a kayak fishing trip with Captain John Houston of Adventure Sea Kayak Wildlife Tours (www.kayak-captiva.com). “If you really want to have fun here,” advised Houston, “just paddle straight out and start casting a three to five inch brown curly-tailed grub on a 1/8-ounce jighead. You’ll catch plenty of sea trout out on the flats, especially in the channels. Work your lure with a sharp jigging motion and
you can’t help but connect.” Once you’ve had your fill of trout – if that’s possible – continue paddling across to Buck Key and work the mangrove edges, creek mouths and notches for redfish. For this, go with a live shrimp and popper set-up, or use a weedless spoon, curly tailed grub or live pinfish. Retrieve slowly using a soft lift-and-drop approach, and hesitate slightly on the strike to make sure you’ve felt a bite rather than a snag before sinking the barb. “If you just want action, the trout fishing and smaller reds can be amazingly cooperative once you get a feel for things,” noted Houston. “To cut the learning curve or target bigger fish, hire a guide for a day or two before trying it on your own.”
Both Houston and Modys noted that the best fishing in the area actually takes place in April, May and October, when catches of six to ten redfish per half-day trip are common and sea trout are both abundant and large. That April slot should be especially attractive as accommodations are readily available, it’s still pretty chilly here at home, and our local saltwater fishing isn’t quite up and running.
In any case, after a week spent in Lee County, I felt like I’d barely scratched the surface when it came to uncovering both the fishing and family fun possibilities. I would love to have spent additional time investigating the bridges of Sanibel and Captiva, where snook and sheepshead abound, poking in and out of the fishy creeks at the Ding Darling refuge by kayak, and exploring the surf options for jacks, pompano and more. The more I think about it, the more I realize additional research is in order. With the temperature outside still slipping into the 40s, sooner rather than later would certainly be my choice.
For more info on Lee County, Fort Myers or Sanibel and Captiva islands, contact the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau at 800-237-6444, or visit: fortmyers-sanibel.com.
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