Always looking for new and exciting places
Hi guys, well this month finds me in the middle of our off-season at Gulf Coast Kayak in Matlacha Southwest Florida. Rain, rain, rain. Which is good, the earth needs a good shower now and then to keep us green, and our lakes and rivers refreshed.
One of the great things about owning a small kayak business is that you can get away when things slow down. And do we take advantage of this when we can? You had better believe it. I am always looking for new and exciting places to paddle and share with you. One such place is in Sarasota. I came across it a few years back and love going back every year. The name of the place is Lido Beach South Park. My wife and I love this area of the state and try to find a time-share, motel or condominiums near the beach for this time of the year. True, we have to time our paddles with the rain of the day. However, it makes for an interesting day. Sometimes it’s an early rise before sunrise or others it may be a late paddle in to the sun set. Either way, they are all good.
South Lido Park is located on Ben Franklin Drive on the south tip of Lido Key. Four bodies of water boarder the park. The Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay, and Brushy Bayou.
Tall Australian pines tend to keep you somewhat cool in the hot afternoon sun. The water is a beautiful blue and it has a good current on in- and out-going tides. There are rest rooms, picnic tables, cooking grills, volley ball court, nature trails, an observation tower, and wood decks, and who would have guessed it — a canoe and kayak ramp.
Now the ramp or spot on the bank takes a little work to get to but not enough to make you want to miss this trip. You can pull up and unload in the parking lot in the woods and then a small potage to the water’s edge. Like I said a small portage, but worth every step.
There is a trail guide at the launch site. Study it before you launch.
There are some great mangrove tunnels and trails, and so many birds to see in the thick , lush mangrove roots. I like to paddle the tunnels and then come out to the sandy cove were the fishing is good. Mangrove snapper at its best, and some good size ladyfish if you are out looking for cut bait for the big reds and snook.
There are some nice sandy spots to pull up on or do some poling and wade fishing in the shoal grass. You then go north to some canals where there are very nice homes. I am not one who usually likes to paddle by houses but the fishing is good up under their docks and the water is clear. If you want to still paddle and fish try up north just a little more under the big bridge.
The first week is over and we still have one more to go. What a blast. We move up the coast to our time-share in Bradenton Beach next to Anna Marie Island. We are across the street from the beach and some good surf fishing and wave riding in the yak. I find that early evening around sun set to be the best. All the sunsets are a Kodak moment. The water temperature one day was 93 degrees and I stood in the surf and fished for hours. The restaurants like the Pier and Rotten Ralph’s are a must and they will even prepare you catch from the day (if you had one.) I have paddled Cortez and the sister islands and was planning to do so again this year. We were at a time-share welcome back party breakfast one morning and the activity director says, hey, you’re the kayak guy, have you done Robinson Preserve yet? I told her I had not and she filled me in on a new place to paddle and fish.
Once you find your way through the residential area and go down 17th Street you find The Robinson Preserve in Manatee County. Let me tell you if you’re ever up this way with your yaks, or you want to make it a special trip, you don’t want to miss this county park. It’s a man-made canal through some salt marsh and you can tell right away that someone on the board of planning was a kayaker. The paddle trails, walking and bike trails are all well marked and laid out. There are kayak rest areas along the paddle trail. To start the launch area is a manmade sandy beach. Easy slide off. There is a box with charts in it for your paddle (free.) The trail is combination of wandering through the salt flats and mangrove tunnels. The mangrove tunnel was long and dark and a welcome cool from the hot mid day sun. It opens out on to the manatee river. (Nice reds tailing; keep an eye out.)
When you return to the beach site you have two washstands and a hose rack to clean the yak before you load up and head home. Across the way in the parking lot next to the clean restrooms is a strange looking site. It looks like some one staked some sewer pipes on top of one another with a cage around it. Turns out it’s a kayak storage area. You can rent a tube about 25 foot long and slide your yak, paddle, vest, and dolly in it. It has a cage and lock on the end. Like I said someone is a yaker on the board. The county rents the tube for about $30 a month, well worth it if you do a lot of kayaking in the park and don’t like humping it off the car every time. One more thing — be sure to bring your bannocks and get out and climb the three-story lookout they have along the kayak trail; you can see a lot of shore birds from up there. In addition, there are some large eagles’ nests. About the eagles, don’t for get to call a head and ask the ranger if the paddling trail by the nest is open. They close them down when they have young in the nest. However, you can still get some great pictures from the observation tower
The weather the past few weeks have been very hot and rainy. Nevertheless, we still had a great time, fishing, paddling, and let’s not forget eating. We are back now in sunny down town Matlacha. In another week, we end our vacations for the year and stay at the “Joisey Shoree” for the month of September. I hope to land some stripers from the surf and get some rest, this vacation time sure can wear a body out. Don’t forget the Big Calusa Blueway event in Pine island the end of October and the first week of November, Gulf Coast Kayak will be giving 20 percent off your kayak rentals and tours for every second one you rent or tour with.
Hope you had a great summer, and thanks for paddling with Mel the Guide. Gulf Coast Kayak tours and rentals 1- 941- 661- 8229 one 239- 283- 1125.