Everglades City, Chokoloskee and Everglades National Park

Capt. Charles Wright
January 10, 2004
Everglades City - Saltwater Fishing Report

Kayak Fishing Mother Ship Trip -- 1/3/04

Saturday, January 3rd, we took a kayak fishing mother ship trip to the Lostman’s River area. A few anglers had to cancel at the last minute, so there was only three of us. We loaded up in Chokoloskee about 8:30 and headed south about 25 miles.

We put out twice, once to fish the rising tide and once to fish the falling. The first drop, we fished a small bight on the outside, sheltered from the light easterly breeze. We were pretty early in the tide so the water was quite shallow. My intentions were to be in place when the bait and the redfish moved in. The “cup” of the bight was a bit slow, John Ehrlund, Premier Cabinets in Ft. Lauderdale, hooked a couple of reds and other a few ladyfish.  

I had positioned the boat at the end of our paddle (about 3/8’s of a mile away from the put out) and paddled back towards the point of the bight to meet the guys. Coming around the opposite side of the point, the glass minnows were already beginning to spill around the corner. Lady fish and jack crevalle were in them pretty good, so the point should be very good.

Tom Windram, out of Orlando, was the first to hookup. He boated and released a nice 24” redfish. Minutes later, I did the same with a twin of the first fish. Tom was fishing a buck tail jig, something he apparently, does not use very often. Those who fish with me know exactly what I was throwing. John got a slow start, until he switched baits… very soon was in the mix also. John and Tom pulled out eight reds, along with a stray sheep head … surprisingly, no snook. We were fishing the glass minnows, so we had to fish thru the countless lady fish and jacks.

Tom was not in a yak this trip. He brought along his Hobie Float Cat. Rigged with a trolling, motor, anchor, rod holders, tackle basket and the kitchen sink, he was really set up for fishing. Tom travels seven states in his work and this little beauty calls the top of his SUV “home”.

As things slowed, we loaded back into the “Captain Morgan” (a.k.a. the Blue Bird Daze), ate some lunch and eased down to Lostman’s River. We pulled into a little bay just as the tide was beginning to fall. We were after snook this drop. Tom power “paddled” to fish a nearby trough and shoreline. John went straight for a pair of islands surrounded by oysters. After positioning the boat, I paddled up to a little creek mouth. John was first to score with another redfish and a sheep head. The first cast into the mouth of the creek produced a small snook. The next 20 casts, however, produced about the same number of ladyfish and jacks. Tom had it tough with but a few fish.

I called the guys back and sent them down a small pass that I had pointed out as we moved into the area. I had put us out upstream, upwind of this area. This little pass is a haven for piles of snook … most of them slot sized. We had timed the tide perfectly as the guys entered the pass.

The hot area in this pass is just out of sight for me. However, just before they moved out of sight, I saw John hookup. They were in them! I had visions of grandeur and big smiles. I had loaded back in the boat in order to reposition on the downstream side for their pickup. 

As they emerged, there were big smiles, but no snook!! John caught redfish, sheep head and trout. Tom said he released six different species in less then 200 yards. All-in-all, a good trip, but the big snook would have to wait for another day.  

Our next “scheduled” mother ship trip is for the 17th and 18th of January with a full boat both days. The next available dates for the scheduled trips are February 21st and 22nd.  The other scheduled dates are posted on the website. If these dates don’t work for you, call me, I absolutely love to do these mother ship trips!!! Let’s go!!

Tight Lines.

Capt. Charles Wright

www.ChokoloskeeCharters.com 239-695-9107

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