Everglades Trip Report

Hi folks, I thought I’d provide a brief report on my recent trip to the Everglades 10,000 Islands area.  It was a fantastic kayak fishing trip and well worth the dollars spent – which wasn’t much in comparison to a lot of trips. 

We started out spending a couple days with Capn’ Charles Wright.  He has a Carolina Skiff named the Yak Attack that he’s rigged to carry 6 kayaks and fishermen comfortably.  He took us out to some good spots and anchored up so we could paddle out from there.  It runs $195/day but I’ve heard he might give deals for larger groups.  Info at: 
http://www.chokoloskeecharters.com/Kayak%20Fishing.htm

After that we went out on our own by paddling on the outgoing tide out of Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island and riding the incoming tide back.  A GPS was essential as the mangrove islands all look the same once you get back a ways and it would be easy to get lost.  We paddled about 12 miles each day fishing all the way. 

Fishing was incredible when the bite was on.  The last day we were catching a fish every 20 minutes or so.  Overall we caught 8 different species.  Snook, jacks, ladyfish, speckled trout, grouper, mangrove snapper, and Spanish mackerel.  And fishing was just the beginning.  The area is pristine and beautiful.  We saw sea turtles, manatees, gators, an amazing array of birds, and most amazing – bottlenose dolphin hunting in the shallows.  Really spectacular. 

I encourage any kayak fisherman to go.  I intend to go back myself.  What I will do next time is probably only go out one day with Capn’ Charles to get familiar with the territory.  The rest I’ll go unguided provided I have fishing buddies and GPS for safety.  The real trick is to get the tides right so you ride them out and back.  I can imagine trying to push against the tides for 10 miles at the end of a long day of fishing in unfamiliar territory.  It wouldn’t be pretty.  So, if you’re planning a trip, look at a tide chart before you go to make sure the outgoing tide is early in the day and the incoming before dark.  Then – it’s fish on!  And if the tides aren’t right – go anyway.  It’ll be a few more bucks but Capn’ Charles will put you on the fish and you’ll have a blast.         

Sweet, nice report! 

Nice!!!  Will have to give that a shot some day.

I'm moving this one to The Traveling Kayak Angler Forum.

-Allen

I must have just missed you.  I spent early Feb. to early April in Chokoloskee.  Charles, lent me his RV spot on the water and I had a blast there.  Good fishing and as you posted the scenery is spectacular.  Getting close to shallow feeding dolphins was always very exciting. 
Charles kept asking me if I wanted to do some guiding and I ended up doing some trips for him out of Chokoloskee.  He wanted to add another Yak Attack mothership if he had a captain to run it.  So I'm now going to be his newest guide.  I'll be heading down there in early November and I look forward to spending several months fishing the region. 
If anyone get's down there look me up.  I've also got my own fleet of Hobie kayaks that'll be there with me. 

Nice report, any photos to share?

Sounds sooooo fun. I want to get out there as well. I got a link w/ video from a member on NCKA and it convinced me, I need to go. And I wanna get that Tarpon... on the fly!!

http://www.drakemag.com/content/view/106/127

Z

I want a tarpon too. 

just what our lil plastic navy is all about, shallow water adventure fishing where the big boats can't go.. Z, JonS, remind me, tarpon get how large again?? 200lbs? 300? and, is that gonna be with spinning tackle or feather casting?

Z, JonS, remind me, tarpon get how large again?? 200lbs? 300? and, is that gonna be with spinning tackle or feather casting?[/size][/font][/color]

BOTH!!!

Z

Something like this: