By Keith Lozott Contributing Writer
Another bucket list item checked off! I have always wanted to fish the Port Charlotte/Pine Island area. My home waters are on the Treasure Coast, Stuart to Vero Beach on the Indian River, and we currently face the issue of a lack of grass in most areas. Over there, it is the opposite. Fishing Pine Island let me experience fishing grass flats once again. Seeing snook, speckled trout, and redfish cruising the edges of lush grass flats and potholes was a treat that I would like to experience on the East Coast again.
As to the fishing, it did not disappoint at all! My buddy Gary had not been able to catch a redfish, and my goal was to show him that they do exist on the flats. We stayed at the Off the Chart Inn located in St. James City/
South Pine Island. The location was great with a ramp across the street and plenty of docks to keep your boat in the water during your stay.
We woke up early each morning to run to spots that we plotted out the night before on our Hot Spot map. We had to make a few audibles based on wind direction and just the vast amount of area to fish. We started off fishing around islands, mangroves, and deeper cuts around the islands. Gary used a gold spoon predominately, and he never opened his tackle box because the action on the spoon was so hot. He was able to catch several redfish, a bunch of seatrout, and of course the typical by-catch ladyfish. Gary was amazed at the power a 24-25 inch redfish possesses and the fight that they put out compared to the other inshore species that he has caught. I think he is hooked on redfish as he has texted me numerous times on what type of spoons to buy for future trips. The two of us were able to catch the boat slam each day with a redfish, trout, and snook (caught and released). I was the snook slayer and he was the redfish man. I even tried to use spoons thinking the snook would be less likely to hit it, and I was wrong for sure! On the last day I was able to win our competition that we set in motion prior to the trip. I had a personal slam with my only redfish of the trip coming at the bottom of the ninth with two outs on a flat that I decided to check out as a last ditch effort. I will say that I had no idea how awesome the flat would be and how close it was to the Inn. Sometimes lucky is better than skills. Give Pine Island a shot and experience a great fishing opportunity that West South Florida has to offer. No boat, no problem, as there are plenty of guides in the area and a bunch of places to stay.
Keith Lozott
The Fishing Realtor