So I finally followed the advice I have received over and over again and I have decided to start a naturalist blog. For years I have kind of used social media like a blog, but it never really has given me the creative control I have always been looking for. As I have continued to gain a following I have decided that it was time to create something specifically for my audience who appreciates and loves my aquatic pursuits, whether that be a road trip to the Florida Keys to learn more about coral restoration efforts or just a quick trip to the local marsh for some red drum or speckled trout light tackle action.
Those of you who truly know me know that I have dedicated my life to ocean science conservation and education. I am blessed that the ocean has brought me so much joy even in tough times. The cathartic nature of the sea calms and heals us, softens our hard edges and chisels away at our own fragile ego. You can not help but feel miniscule when standing on the shore, as the rhythm of the tides and the vast migrations that play out year to year and season to season are a reminder that we are a part of a much larger natural world.
Recently I was able to take off on a journey to participate in my first ICAST event & explore a part of the country that I had not visited in many years. As a college student back in 1999, I spent a summer working as a "camp host" at Sebastian Inlet State Park in central Florida along the Atlantic Coast. While there I learned about the Indian River Lagoon, one of the largest and most diverse estuarine systems along the Atlantic Seaboard.
The Indian River Lagoon and the Mosquito Lagoon are home to manatees, brown pelicans, bottlenose dolphin and many popular sportfish. The area is widely recognized as the northern most region where you can have a shot at both resident snook and tarpon that live in the warm waters along the coast that typically staying above the lower tolerance limits of both species around 60F.
Several years back a strong and sudden cold snap really hurt these tropical fish populations locally due to their inability to tolerate the cooler temperatures, but thankfully their numbers have recovered recently as they have experience several warm winters in a row. I must say it appears as if Florida Fish and Wildlife did an outstanding job of helping the fish to recover after implementing a number of proven management strategies following the cold snap.
I took off from my home here in Morehead City, NC and drove south until I got to Edgewater, Florida. This small community serves as the gateway to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and expansive natural community that sets adjacent to the Cape Canaveral National Seashore and the Kennedy Space Center. The area is a network of coastal shrub habitat and mangrove islands doting the shoreline, creating a wondaful place for outdoor recreation opportunities like kayak fishing!
I had packed my small travel yak' in our family van preparing for the possibility of tangling with some of the Florida native saltwater species that we do not see back home like the juvie tarpon that like to hang out along the mangrove channels and cuts.
As I settled in to my clean and cozy room at my new home away from home at Carter's Motel and Mobile Home Park, I scoured google maps and some of the local fishing charter pages looking for intel. I ended up cold calling captain Joe Catigamo of Mosquito Lagoon Fishing and explaining my travel plans and he was able to help me identify some sheltered shore spots I had seen online that would provide me with access to some fishy territory. Thanks to the good captain and some more time spent looking over maps I went to bed that night anticipating a early start the next morning driving into unfamiliar territory.
Alarm clocks are not necessary on my travel fishing days, in honesty after months on the water at first light chasing sea trout at home its rare I sleep in beyond first light anymore. As I rolled out of bed and my feet hit the floor I pulled out of Carters and made the run down Kennedy Parkway to one of the boat launches at the end of a long dark road that seemed straight out of Deliverance- Florida Edition.
As the sun began to show the first signs of a new day I slipped my yak' into the water and started paddling across the open water channel that led to a series of spoil islands, ringed in mangrove trees with roots and branches extending out into and over the water. On the leeward side of each island a hard packed shoal had formed, formally covered in sea grass but unfortunately like many other places the sea grass beds were in a state of decline but attempting to recovered in the clear waters along the edge of the shoal I had chosen to fish.
Believe it or not, my first cast with my go to bone Rapala skitter walk lure was hit with aggression by a familiar species, a small spotted sea trout. This area is well known for anglers who target large "gator" sea trout weighing over 5 lbs. and measuring over 25'' long. A true fish of a lifetime can measure over 30" and 10lbs. Dedicated and determined anglers spend a lot of time looking for their "dirty 30" some live their entire lives and never come close. For me, I took the time to appreciate each one I caught as I picked away at them for the next 30 minutes as the sun broke the horizon and the action subsided.
I scanned the islands to my north and thought back to a deeper cut I had identified on the map online that looked like a good spot for strong fighting species like red drum, tarpon and snook. As I worked around the bend I pulled back away from the shoreline as I approached the cut along the bank. First cast drew the attention of a predatory fish that somehow missed the ultra sharp VMC hooks that come standard on skitter walks so I instinctively fired back another shot all the way to the back of the pocket created by the mangled trees that are capable of thriving right in the brackish water ecosystem. This time, the line came tight and the drag started to peel off of my 2500 class Penn Conflict reel that I have matched with a Star Rods Stellar light model designed for long cast and the twitch twitch twitch cadence that walk the dog style lures require.
In an instant, my small kayak was swung out away from shore as the then mystery fish choose to head out to open water for its strong, bullish first run that punished my tackle as the fish tried to expose a weakness in my gear or preparation. Thankfully, the 15lb. braided line held strong as the fish continue to tow me out to deeper water. Then suddenly, the fish changed direction and ran back at me as I attempted to keep the line tight. As she turned to run towards the shoreline I cupped the reel, attempting to put a little additional pressure on the fish convincing it to stay out in the open water.
Thankfully, my knots held true and after two more shorter runs I got a look at what was proved to be approximately a 36' snook jump completely out of the water. As I brought the fish closer to the boat I reached forward for my net, not wanting to risk landing this fish by hand as I often do as I knew it was the largest snook I had ever caught. As I buried the fishes head in my net, 2/3 of its body spilling out, I cradled it up into my lap and immediately took three strokes of my paddle to beach the boat on a stretch of shore that open up a little providing me a spot to mange a couple of quick pictures and a healthy release of an amazing fish that had suddenly made the trip south a worthwhile endeavor.
Anything else that happened was icing on the cake. Thankfully there were many other great moments yet to be had during my recent Florida adventure!
As I paddled back across the channel to return back the the ramp I was reflecting on my blessings when I saw a tell tale pizza pan circular shape on the waters surface, created my manatees swimming slowly underwater. Sitting low on the water in my kayak, I slipped my hands down into the water attempting to wave them up to the surface when slowly couple of Florida's resident marine mammals surfaced quickly to take a breath before disappearing again below the waters surface. I smiled quietly continued to paddle back, leaving a small part of me behind after an amazing experience out on a beautiful body of water I hope to soon further explore.
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