Dan Carns
We host a lot of kayak fishing trips out of Gulf Coast Kayak in Matlacha. Recently the call came in to see if I was available to guide a fisherman from North Fort Myers, as he wanted to go and work out some bugs regarding lures, tide, and fish habitat. I suggested that we start at 6:30 a.m., he suggested we start at 6 a.m.! Anyone who has fished with me knows that this is my idea of a perfect start.
I’m very focused regarding the details of every trip, is the tide right, what is the wind direction and speed, will we be able to catch bait, is my shrimp guy going to be open, and most importantly, will the fish cooperate! My hopes were high! We were launching at the golden hour (daybreak) and everything seemed to be working in our favor. After introductions, a brief discussion regarding kayak safety, some fishing basics for S.W. Florida, an overview of the Matlacha Aquatics Preserve and possible wildlife encounters, we set out into calm water.
My client Ron had great angling skills, accurate casting ability, an understanding of cadence and top water experience. Oyster bars are key feeding grounds for predatory fish like trout, redfish, snook, sharks and a number of other fish. We fished around this very large oyster bar without a single hit. When the sun hit the horizon and the tide began to flow, we suddenly saw what looked like fish feeding steadily on the surface. We carefully pulled up to within 30 ft. of the edge of a mangrove island where the tide was now pouring around the point. Once anchored we re-rigged a popping cork with a circle hook and tipped it with live shrimp, as he was new to bait fishing we reviewed the many ways to hook shrimp. The first cast was 10’ short of the mangrove overhang so the tide swung the cork right past the feeding fish. The second cast was right on the edge of the trees and as the cork came across the strike zone, down it went! With light pressure, Ron had his first ever snook, not big but memorable. After a couple of pictures and some big smiles, we repeated the same cast and the second snook was a little bigger, more photos and smiles and for about an hour we boated 10 more snook, lost about 6 and practiced other methods of hooking live shrimp. We threw other baits and lures and plastics but these fish were keyed in on the shrimp. The fishing slowed down so we moved to a few more points, edges and channels and boated a few more snook, mangrove snapper and a drag screaming Catfish!
On our way back, we talked about the diversity of fishing habitat that this area has to offer, a true paradise! This was one of those days that all anglers pray for and moments that drive us all back to the water’s edge!
It’s a wild world – get out there!
Fishman Dan
Gulf Coast Kayak,
4120 Pine Island Rd NW, Matlacha, FL 33993
Phone: 239-283-1125