Destination Paddle/Fish- Matlacha
Launch: Matlacha Park http://www.leeparks.org/facility-info/f ... t_Num=0173 is a model park. The waters around the park are all slow speed manatee zones and offer up some great paddling and fishing.
All four kayak/canoe launches in Matlacha Park are isolated from the boat ramp and offer pull up access. The launch shores are shallow with firm bottom. There are shaded picnic facilities, restrooms, fresh water wash down for kayaks and canoes, trash receptacles, fishing pier and more.
Directions:
Matlacha Park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. 4577 Pine Island RD NW Matlacha, FL 33993. Drive time from St. Petersburg is aprox. 2-3 hours depending on time of day.
GPS Coordinates: 26°37'44.63"N 82° 4'12.98"W
Handicap Access: Yes
Safe Parking: Yes
Paddling Difficulty: Easy, but watch for summer afternoon thunderstorms. Given the North/South orientation of Matlacha Pass, winter’s pre and postfrontal winds can change paddling difficulty.
Matlacha Vibe: Old Florida Key’s style fishing village. To view interesting and informative videos about Matlacha including fishing information- http://theadvance.info/index.php?key=Matlacha
Local Weather Site: http://www.capeweather.com
Tidal Station: Matlacha Pass Bascule Bridge
Interesting to note: The tides actually meet at the “Famous Matlacha Bridge”. Fishing improves a mile north or south of the bridge where tides run truer and are less influenced by run-off from North Cape Coral.
Closest Recommended Tackle Shop(s) in Matlacha: Seven Seas, D&D Bait and Tackle
Restaurants: Sandy Hook, Moretti’s, Miceli’s, Perfect Cup Coffee Shop (wonderful breakfast and lunch). Bert’s Bar.
Art Galleries: Too many to list here featuring local artist’s and author’s works.
Interesting to note: You can paddle to all the accommodations, restaurants and art galleries on the island!
Festivals
Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com/
Mango Mania- http://www.floridascreativecoast.com/MM-home.html
Annual Seafood Festival and Mullet Toss- http://www.matlachamariners.org/MMI_Eve ... s_2010.htmCheck this site for dates.
Seafood Markets: Ye’ Old Fish House (they serve fresh seafood lunches), Andy’s and the market right by the entrance to Matlacha Park. Bring a cooler to take home fresh, local caught, stone crab, clams, tripletail and harbor shrimp at great prices.
On Island Accommodations- Sun and Moon Bed and Breakfast (kayak rentals available), Bridge Inn.
THE FISHING- Snook, redfish, trout, jacks, mangrove snapper, ladyfish; juvenile tarpon and sharks in the summer are available.
Best bets: Redfish on the turtle grass flats and mangrove shoreline of Indian Fields (see Google image above) and around islands off the northwest point of Matlacha.
Look for jacks behind the Matlacha shrimp boats first thing in the morning when boats dock and start culling and offloading their catch. Also, look for birds diving around the bridge, either side.
Note Matlacha Bridge and Bridge Inn with the red roof in the background
Snook: Cuts into back bays, mangrove points/outside shorelines and for the adventurous, traverse the narrow mangrove tunnel to Tom Black Lake (see Google image above) on high incoming tides.
Trout and Ladyfish on deeper grass flats (Late afternoons in early spring Indian Fields), I like the flat behind Bert’s Bar where the old live-aboard sailboats moor.
Juvenile tarpon: First thing on still, hot summer mornings around the island itself in the deeper residential canals closest to the main channel or right outside the entrances to the same canals.
Matlacha Tarpon caught by husband
Wildlife Viewing: Manatees, Bottlenose dolphin, osprey, bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets and more.
If you do visit Matlacha, please post here; pictures and your experiences, add helpful information, etc.
Tight lines, safe paddling and remember to bring the camera!
Since the freeze last year snook fishing around Matlacha has been challenging, but there are fish around. If ever you are heading this way, please send me an e-mail. It would be fun to get together and fish. That might even convince John to get back in his canoe.