Dan Carns
Let me just begin by saying that we are really spoiled here in Matlacha when it comes to fishing! Matlacha, an Indian word that roughly translates to shallow water, is an angler’s paradise nestled between Charlotte Harbor to the north and the Caloosahatchee to the south. This waterway flows through the Matlacha Aquatic Preserve flooding deep mangrove forests, bending around countless mangrove covered islands through fairly shallow, but fishable passes past healthy oyster bars that finally open up to grass covered flats, potholes and boating channels. Other than deep water, this place has every conceivable skinny water environment possible. Kayakers have the advantage here, as you will see power boats can only traverse the backwater at full high tide and often with their motors up pushing as deep as possible, but not quite getting all the way back. Kayaks on the other hand can go anywhere the fish are holding whether it’s way back under the tree edges at high tide or in the sheltered troughs and holes fish escape to as the tide drops to low.
You can catch any number of fish here year-round, even during what passes for “winter” in SWFL! When our clients book guided fishing trips here at Gulf Coast Kayak they always ask what can they catch and the standard answer starts with snook, redfish and spotted seatrout. These three species are the primary targets here but are certainly not the only ones. We have a heathy population of mangrove snapper, a tarpon fishery in the summer, Jack Crevalle and countless other species including bluefish, ladyfish, and the dreaded catfish, just to name a few.
Our primary goal is to introduce the client to all the variables necessary to become a more successful angler. While these skills can be self-taught over time, we compress the learning curve into a trip or two focusing on tide, when and where to fish, what to use and when! Anglers come from around the world to fish here and often they have superior skills and ability but just need a little enlightenment or local knowledge to succeed. Artificial lures and or bait choice may be the primary difference that changes everything for most newcomers. When and where to use paddle tails or shad style plastics, weighted jig heads or twist lock hooks, fished low and slow or medium retrieve and mid water depth are just a few of the techniques we teach. Unless you have perfected the use of artificial lures, a style of fishing that requires practice practice practice then there are both live and dead bait options here that may turn a so-so fishing trip into something to remember. We now have a flotilla of kayaks that use our launch for a very low launch fee that were at one time guided fishing customers. Sure, they could and do launch elsewhere, but hey this is paradise! Come see what we have to offer in beautiful Matlacha, Fl. It’s A Wild World-Get Out There! Fishman Dan
