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Native Angle
Modern sportsmen revert to indigenous styles of fishing via kayak.By Chelle Koster Walton
 Kayak fishing off the Paradise Coast reels in peaceful views and big game. |
Fishing never went out of style on the Paradise Coast of Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades, but the style of transportation has evolved forward and back. Today, fishermen are rediscovering through kayak fishing that paddling your own vessel brings simplicity, quiet, and connectedness to the sport and to the past.
The Lure
What's the appeal? First of all, you're getting two sports in one, both of them lending purpose to the other. Plus, the quiet of kayaking means fish aren't as easily spooked. You are closer to the water and therefore to the fish – in more ways than physical. With eyes peeled, you're bound to see birds, manatees, dolphin, and a host of other local creatures.
"It's more intimate," says Capt. Charles Wright, owner of EvergladesKayakFishing.com. "You sit low in the water. For families and groups, it's great because those who don't want to fish can paddle over to a beach or watch for birds or take photographs."
Chris Boland, who leads kayak fishing tours and sales at Saltwater Sports, says, "Besides the natural attraction there are the other issues
 Fishing kayaks come equipped with rod holders, anchor systems and other amenitiesCourtesy of EvergladesAreaTours.com |
Kayak fishing is becoming the newest sports craze across the nation, but it's particularly suited to the often skinny, island-strewn waters of the Paradise Coast. Kayak manufacturers are outfitting their vessels with rod holders, anchor systems, pedal drives, and other bells and whistles that appeal to fishermen. But all you really need is a paddle and a reel to give it a try.
Sweet Spots
The still waters of Everglades National Park, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Big Cypress National Preserve practically beg to be kayaked, and the expanse is virtually endless. The Paradise Coast Blueway has blazed a series of virtual, GPS-marked trails through part of this maze of mangroves. More phases are in the planning. For now, the main route leads from the town of Everglades City to Goodland, where snook, snapper, sheepshead and ladyfish are plentiful.
To the north of Marco Island, Johnson Bay and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, with their mix of freshwater and saltwater, are home to great populations of fish, including the mighty tarpon. Even right within the city of Naples, paddlers can get to the fish in places such as Clam Pass, Cocohatchee Bay and the Gordon River.
Outfitters & Resources
Saltwater Sports conducts both regular and fly-fishing kayak tours departing from Capri Fish House in Isles of Capri and Glades Haven Marina in Everglades City. The tours are geared to beginning kayakers and experienced kayak fishermen.
By using a "mother boat" to transport kayakers deep into the Everglades, EvergladesKayakFishing.com cuts out four to five days of paddling to get fishermen directly to the sweetest, most hidden spots.
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