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The Chokoloskee Island Fishing Experience
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The state of Florida, with it’s vast coastlines, wonderful
climate and impressive fisheries, claims to be the “Fishing
Capital of the World”. Few areas can dispute this claim.
Its reputation is well deserved and touted by anglers worldwide.
The sugar sand beaches of the pan handle, the tarpon flats off
Homosassa Springs, Pine Island Sound, the marshes of the
northeast, the lagoons of the west central peninsula, the sailfish
alley of the southeast coast and the crystal clear waters of the
Florida Keys comprise a big part of this wonderful fishing paradise
that we call Florida. However, the crème’ de la crème’, the best the
State has to offer, is the waters surrounding Chokoloskee Island in
the western side of Everglades National Park. It is rich in history,
rich in opportunities, rich in diversity and rich in experience.
Located only 90 minutes from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and
Ft. Myers, few places can rival the western park area. It is a
massive nursery of marine life that feeds a diverse array of sport
and food fish. From its rivers, flats and islands spills the forage that
nurtures the species that we sportsman seek. Tarpon, snook,
redfish, trout, permit, cobia, shark, grouper, snapper, pompano, sheepshead, triple tail, mackerel and kingfish are all fed by the rich
waters of the Park. It is very common on a single charter to catch a
dozen or more species in one outing.
The topography of the area alone provides some wonderful fishing
opportunities whether you are fishing from a kayak, jon boat,
pontoon boat, flats boat or a center console. Consisting of over one
million acres of flooded wonderland there is always somewhere
new and different to explore and experience.
Located in the approximate geographic center of the area is
the gateway to this paradise, Chokoloskee Island. Chokoloskee
is a 137-acre island, rich with history, on the southern side of the
10,000 Islands area. To the north (actually northwest) are literally
thousands of mangrove islands to fish. Against the mainland’s
southern shore, the waters of the tidal rivers have been flowing in
and out of the backcountry since long before our time. These
rivers provide excellent opportunities to fish oyster bars, sand and
mud flats, scoured holes, river mouths, run-offs and
feeder creeks.
While artificial fishermen and live baiters
alike can fish these rivers effectively, this is
perhaps the fly fisherman’s paradise. The “head
waters” are crystal clear, though always tea
colored from the mangroves, providing excellent
site fishing opportunities. The rivers are littered
with small mangrove islands and feeder creeks
that are havens for fish. The rivers all have
“resident” populations of small tarpon year
round. The moving water scours deep “holes”
and at the same time creates sand and mud
flats. Numerous oyster bars, natures little
fortresses for crabs, shrimp and small fishes, are
up and down the river creating natural rips and
eddies. The fishing opportunities are immense.
An angler can take a lifetime of fishing learning
just one river. North of Chokoloskee lays the
Pumpkin River, the Little Wood River, the
Wood River, the East River, the Fakahatchee
River, the Ferguson River, the Barron River
and the Turner River. South you will find the
Lopez, Chatham, Houston, Lostman’s, Rodgers,
Broad and Harney Rivers as well as many
unnamed “creeks” large enough to be called
rivers. You get the idea … lots of opportunity.
The “north” rivers dump into large bays
surrounded by literally thousands of islands.
Each provides opportunities for fishing
its respective oyster bars, cuts, mangrove overhangs
and rips. The islands themselves form
massive “passes” that tidal waters flow
through. These passes scour holes that are
sometimes over twenty feet deep. At various
times of the year, you will encounter most all
of the fish the area has to offer in these passes.
The smaller of the groupers, the largest of the
black drum, spanish mackerel and cobia move
into the passes in the cooler months. As things
warm up, the massive goliath groupers, large
numbers of large tarpon and the big snook
move in. Snapper, jacks, trout, pompano and
ladyfish are a “given” almost year round.
The “south” rivers are “fed” by the backcountry.
A vast flooded area of saltwater bays, bayous,
bights and islands. Part of this country is the
Wilderness Waterway, a marked boating trail,
maintained by the National Park that runs for
over 75 miles. Higher in the backcountry, to the
north, above the bays, are runoff creeks from
the mainland. Here you can catch a snook in
one cast, and redfish the next and a large
mouth bass on another.
The mouth of the south rivers are defined by
massive oyster bars and passes that cut through
even larger grass and mud flats. At the proper
time, these areas concentrate large numbers of
fish and wildlife. Fishing the mouths, it is not
uncommon to be amongst hundreds of wading
birds, manatee, alligators, porpoise, eagles and
osprey. You will even see deer, pigs, cats and bear
on the beaches. Have you ever seen a sawfish?
You might actual catch one of these dinosaurs
here as well.
The outside barrier islands, both north and
south are lined with pristine, isolated beaches
with grass flats just off the shoreline. Snook,
redfish, shark and jack roam the beaches making
for excellent sight fishing opportunities. Trout,
pompano, ladyfish, flounder and redfish are up
on the flats. Tarpon, shark, cobia, large jacks
and porpoise will be there also hunting the
smaller species. While trout fishing with six to
eight pound spinning gear, my anglers will
almost always run into a school of ladyfish. In
the spring, summer and fall, quite often, a
ladyfish will be gobbled up by a marauding
tarpon ... show time!
Just offshore, within sight of land are natural and
artificial formations that hold piles of cobia,
snook, goliath groupers, mackerel, kingfish,
snapper and permit. A typical day usually consists
of the inside/outside trip. Anglers get to fish
“inside” amongst the rivers and islands in the
morning and “outside” on the near-shore structure
in the afternoon. In the warmer months, I
often get to witness Mother Nature’s food chain
first hand. At least once a week I have an angler’s
cobia, permit or snook inhaled by a giant goliath
grouper or run down by a hungry shark. It certainly
makes for an exciting and varied day on the
water!
The typical angler can’t always choose to fish
when the weather is perfect. Most of us fish when
other obligations allow, when we have time off or
are on vacation. Unlike most every other fishery
in the State, rarely are you “blown” out because
of weather. Due to the Western Park’s diverse fishing
opportunities and it’s vast amount of sheltered water, you
can almost always find good, sheltered areas to catch fish no matter what
mother nature delivers. Don’t get me wrong, when the sparks start to fly
with the summer time thunderstorms, you can be run out of here just as fast
as anywhere, but even in a stiff 20+ knot breeze, you can still catch fish in
the lee of the islands, river banks and creeks. This fact alone makes the area
an excellent destination.
For some, including me, one of the most attractive features of the area is
the solitude. I prefer to fish alone with my anglers, the wildlife, the islands
and the fish. If I had my choice, I would rather not see another boat the
entire day. I like the feeling of solitude, the feeling that this special place
and time is my special place and time. Here you have that choice. It is very
easy to get away from the others because there is just so much country
available to explore and experience.
I feel very lucky to be able to live and work in this area. One of my greatest
jollies is watching people experience this area. The look on an anglers face
as he looks down at his reel to see the bottom of his spool appear as a permit
streaks to the horizon or the excitement in a youngster’s face when he sees
a snook break the water is absolutely priceless. I would not trade it for anything
in the world. I am passionate about the Chokoloskee area and love
sharing it with others. I grew up in Miami, fishing and diving the southeast
Florida area and the Keys. As well, in a “past” life, I fished the west coast
of Florida extensively. However, for all the reasons above, this is truly the
best Florida has to offer.
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