By: Joe Sheaffer
One of my passions is fishing along the Southwest Florida beaches. I live in Charlotte County and have access to a few beaches. I have always enjoyed fishing the beaches along Manasota Key. Walking and fishing along Stump Pass Beach Park has always been a favorite. Stump Pass is the largest pass along the Key that opens Lemon Bay out to the Gulf. Over the last couple of years, I haven’t spent much time on that stretch of the Key. Hurricanes Milton and Helene split the beach in two, which really limited the access to that part of the island. In recent weeks Mother Nature has closed the Split (Milton’s Pass) and now visitors have full walking access from the park down to Stump Pass. I recently spent a nice morning walking and fishing the Park down to the pass. The area has a primitive feel and the end of the island is very unique. I enjoyed seeing many different animals, including many different birds, porpoise, manatees, and flying rays to name a few. I also spent some time fishing along the pass, catching snook, jacks and ladyfish along the north side of Stump Pass. If you happen to be near Englewood and you want a different beach experience, Stump Pass may be the place to visit. FYI, the park opens at 8:00 am, closes at 8:30 pm. There is limited parking and at this time they only have portable bathrooms. This is a State Park and the cost per person is $3.00. As always, good luck and keep casting.