Alligators Put Scare Into Young Girl's Trip

LIDO KEY - As we slid the kayaks into the water, my 5-year-old nephew made sure his cousin knew what she was getting into.

"We are going on an adventure," Taj Fleming told my daughter Nia. "Better watch out for alligators."

My 4-year-old stopped dead in her tracks and would not get in the kayak.

"I'm scared of alligators," she whimpered. "I don't want to get eaten."

I assured my daughter that if there were any alligators that had gotten lost in the mangrove-lined estuary at Lido Key, they most likely fed on little boys, not girls, which made her feel much better.

"Don't worry about anything," I told the youngsters. "Just keep an eye out for dolphins and manatees."

Kid-friendly escape

My oldest child, a strapping 6-year-old boy, Kai, is a veteran outdoorsman. He's been on dozens of boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and camping trips over the years. However, my youngest, a self-proclaimed "princess," has led a more sheltered life.

But recently my daughter and her cousin, whose only goal in life is to be a singer like his hero Bob Marley, announced that they were ready to tackle the great outdoors.

When planning a child's first outdoor adventure, it is important to make sure that it will be a pleasurable experience. Don't try anything too long, too hard or too dangerous, lest they abandon the wilderness and turn into city slickers.

The Lido Key Canoe/Kayak Trail in Sarasota County proved to be the perfect opportunity to test the younglings' mettle. The well-marked waterway can be as short or as long as you like. Paddling through these tree-covered corridors it is easy to imagine yourself in another time and place.

Mangrove tunnels

Five minutes into our trip, we turned and followed the signs into what looked like an enchanted mangrove forest. The trees have grown over the water and formed a canopy, just large enough for a canoe or kayak to navigate.

Inside the darkened tunnel, you will see raccoons hunting among the "walking trees" as mangrove crabs scurry for cover. Wading birds prowl the dimly lit corridor, feeding on fingerlings illuminated by the shafts of sunlight filtering through the treetops.

The water here is exceptionally clear, so pristine, in fact, that you can see sponges in some of the deeper areas. Don't be alarmed if you surprise a silver-sided snook resting in the shallows.

Exit the mangroves and head for open water, following the shoreline around toward Big Pass and the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Dolphins and manatees

Once you leave the shelter of Sarasota Bay, the water can get rougher in Big Pass. The current is usually lighter along the shoreline if you want to head to the tip of Lido Key, where kayak surfers congregate on windy days to frolic in the breaking waves.

But we chose to stop at one of the picnic tables beneath some Australian pine trees for a juice box and a peanut butter-and-jelly lunch. I let the kids wade in the cool, clear water. As they swam, a pod of manatees passed 100 feet offshore. A few minutes later, a family of dolphin followed.

Paddling back the way we came, we re-entered the mangrove tunnels. The second time through, the kids had a little more courage, dragging their hands through the water, tempting fate.

Three hours after we had started, our trip ended at the same boat ramp.

"I can't wait to tell Mommy that we saw a manatee and dolphin," Nia said. "But nooooooo alligators."

Plan your adventure

Head south to Sarasota. Follow the signs to St. Armands Circle on Lido Key. Go around the circle, exiting south on the Boulevard of the Presidents to Taft Drive and South Lido Park (Lido Key has three county parks; all with amenities). Launch from the park and paddle south along the shoreline to go through the mangrove tunnels. A full circumnavigation of Lido Key will take several hours; more if you stop at Mote Aquarium. If the gulf is too rough, retrace your path back to your launch point through sheltered water.

Guided tours

Sarasota Bay Explorers at Mote Aquarium (1600 Ken Thompson Parkway) offers guided kayak tours through the mangrove tunnels along the Lido Key Canoe/Kayak Trail. A naturalist accompanies all expeditions, offering insight into the flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem.

Previous paddling experience is not necessary. The aquarium crew offers basic instruction.

Two-person kayaks, paddles and personal flotation devices are provided. All you need to bring is sunscreen, water, a towel and waterproof camera.

The cost is $50 for adults; $40 for children. Call (941) 388-4200 or go to Sarasotabayexplorers.com.

Online slide show

To see more photos, go tooutdoors.tampabay.com

Gags Move Closer

What's hot: Gag grouper fishing in 40-60 feet is starting to heat up. When water temperatures fall into the low 70s to upper 60s, these fish start their migration to our nearshore waters. With each passing front comes a new wave of fish. When the water reaches its coldest point, these same fish will make their way back offshore to areas such as the Middle Grounds to spawn (usually February and March).

Tackle: When fishing for gag grouper in shallower water, most of the bottom in these areas consists of sharp ledges and dropoffs that are good ambush points. The use of 60- to 80-pound gear will aid in getting fish off the bottom before the leader hits the ledge and the fish are lost. It might seem like overkill because of the large number of smaller gags that will accompany the larger fish, but it is not uncommon to have a few fish in the 15- to 20-pound range in these areas.

Areas: There are many different areas in which to find ledges in our nearshore waters. Studying charts and searching with your bottom machine are keys in finding new spots. Trolling large deep-diving plugs also will help in covering large areas. If a grouper is caught while trolling, mark the spot and circle back around because chances are it was sitting on a ledge.

Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at fintasticinc.com or (727) 642-3411.

Seeing Reds in North Suncoast

Inshore: The redfish bonanza continues in Pasco and Hernando counties. Over the past few months catches have consisted primarily of mid- to lower-slot fish. Now it's upper- to oversized. Frequent large trout and flounder catches have been a bonus.

Nearshore: Off Hernando the grouper bite remains productive in 12-20 feet when the wind allows for a comfortable ride 6 to 9 miles offshore. Key to success: accessibility of live scaled sardines.

Pro logic: Anchor uptide of small rock piles. Start a chum line by cutting up minnows and allowing them to drift back to the rocks. Thereafter, slightly crush handfuls of the live bait and disseminate it in a semicircle behind the boat. The grouper will move up the chum line and away from the structure. Done properly, the fish often become frenzied and are caught by free-lining a live sardine in the current. Fishing the minnows without weight optimizes the chances of catching other species, including Spanish mackerel, kingfish, sharks and the oddball cobia.

Robert McCue can be reached at GiantTarpon.com or (800) 833-0489.

Great Grouper Fishing

Great grouper fishing: Bottom fishing remains strong in depths of 15 to 80 feet. A large concentration of gag grouper settled on many of the rock piles and ledges. This has been a long-awaited migration to our area because the Red Tide put a halt to any real action for the past two winters. Last week, we fished for grouper at numerous depths. We caught keepers in 76 toeven 19 feet of water.

Skinny water: Our last stop in the shallower depths proved to be our most exciting. The tackle was lightened with lead so it wouldn't be too bulky. The proper weight is crucial. You want to use just enough weight to get it to the bottom. You could see where the fish were heading by monitoring the direction of the line as it was pulled from the reel.

What they like for dinner: Live and frozen bait worked the entire week. Pinfish and pilchards have been accessible around all the passes. Look for the diving birds as indicators of the big schools. A cast net or gold hook rig can get the job finished quickly. Squid and sardines were our favorite baits from the freezer.

--Dave Mistretta

Mullet, Redfish Everywhere

Thanksgiving is considered a landmark date for area anglers. For years it has been regarded as the traditional end of the fall kingfish run. That's not to say there will not be more kings caught, but during normal seasons things tend to wind down by now.

Mullet run: It is also the beginning of the roe season. For the past few weeks the eggs inside the female mullet have been hydrating in preparation for spawning. As the eggs are ripening, females and males begin to gather in huge schools. These schools linger on the flats, in canals and inside area rivers. When the strong northwesterly winds of a cold front hit, the fish dash offshore where they complete their spawning rituals.

Redfish connection: When these mullet settle in on the flats, several species of game fish mingle with them. Redfish are the most reliable. The more mullet you find jumping and milling around on a grass flat, the more likely there are reds about. Ease over to the flipping, finning mass and cast a gold spoon or scented soft plastic bait into it. If that does not produce what you are after, try casting a couple of rods baited with live sardines. The reds will get in the midst of the mullet, so try not to spook the school.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at info@lighttacklecharters.com or 727 944-3474.

Bite Is Hot Inshore

What's hot: With calm waters just off the coastline, anglers are able to experience some nearshore action, within a mile of the beach. The Spanish mackerel have been the consistent bite in the morning with some kingfish mixed in. Spanish sardines and greenbacks have been the bait of choice. To increase the bite ratio, use 30-pound fluorocarbon leader instead of any trace wire before the long shank hook. When keeping mackerel for the dinner plate, be sure to have plenty of ice. Hard-fighting bonita also have been mixed in with these migratory game fish and will test most light-action rods. As a bonus fish when working the nearshore wrecks, huge bull redfish in the 40-pound class have been attacking the same baits free-lined for mackerel. These bronze bruisers make for a great photo, but take time to revive this great resource upon release.

The inshore action has been good with an incoming tide. Snook, redfish and larger flounder will use sandy depressions just outside bayous and rivers to feed until the water temperature holds in the lower 60s. Once the cooler water arrives, these fish will use the confines of docks and deep canals for stability of warmth and bait.

--Jim Huddleston

"Peashooters'' Provide Punch

The outing: Joe and Anna Saprito, Jimmy and Julie Johnson and Steve Owens came from Central Florida for two days of fishing last weekend armed with "peashooters," 8- to 10-pound test spinning tackle more suited to bass fishing.

Spanish mackerel action just north of Blind Pass was nonstop trolling spoons behind No. 1 planers on standard 30-pound test. The light tackle was outfitted with a small trolling lead, 20-pound test leader and the same No. 1 spoon trolled behind the planers. The large Spanish mackerel provided drag-pulling excitement every time they struck.

Fishing offshore on the Swiss-cheese red grouper bottom and small ledges in the 80- to 90-foot range using conventional 40-pound test tackle produced a mixed bag of red and gag grouper, mangrove, lane, yellowtail and red snapper. The red snapper had to be released because the season is closed until April. Using the ultralight tackle with 20 leader, 2-ounce sinkers and 3/0 hooks on the hard bottom provided great sport from red grouper.

--Dave Zalewski

Redfish Tips

What's hot: Sight-casting for redfish in shallow water has been the focus. The water temperature is about 68 degrees in the morning then heats up to about 74 in the afternoon. The cooler temperatures have allowed the water to clear. Wading is key when the water clears and we have bright blue skies after cold fronts move through. Anchor on the outer sandbar and look for water flowing through cuts formed by tidal flows. That is where fish hang out and wait for the water to start flooding onto the flat.

Tackle: Use 10-pound braided line with a 6-foot, 20-pound mono leader. Long leader is needed so the fish will not see the braided line in the extremely clear water. Neoprene waders are a must to keep warm. The water temperatures will drop fast when cold fronts move through and we have cooler nights. There have been a lot of stingrays on the flats, so wading boots are a must to protect your legs.

Keep a lookout: When running on the edge of any sandbar, keep a look out for any type of schooling fish. Last week when trout fishing, there was a disturbance in the distance and the boat was pushed closer to the school. Amazingly, there were thousands of black drum milling in the grass, causing a huge mud spot. Three fish were landed by the morning charter and the afternoon charter landed three more.

Rob Gorta charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at captainrobgorta.com or (727) 647-7606.

Full baitwell, right rigging essential now

For many anglers, this is their favorite time of year. The water temperature is slowly falling and fish are cooperating, no matter which species is the target.

Grouper continue to migrate into the shallow bait-rich waters between 50 and 90 feet. Large schools of Spanish sardines and cigar minnows are around most ledges in these depths, and therefore the grouper are there, too.

It is important to have a verity of baits to ensure a productive trip. I have been on ledges where the fish would not eat any live pinfish or pigfish, but the second a live sardine hit the bottom the fish inhaled them. There have also been many instances where the fish would eat nothing but squirrelfish. This is because many areas have an abundance of these specific baits and the fish in the area have grown accustomed to eating these baitfish.

When targeting shallow-water gag grouper, it is better to rig too heavy than too light. Eighty-pound tackle is helpful in prying these fish from under their ledges. Shorter leaders and light lead weights will mean more fish and fewer breakoffs. The first thing a gag will do when it feels the pressure of the hook is run for the nearest rock or hole and dive in, so lock down the drag on the reel.

Snapper fishing should continue to be consistent in depths of 60 to 150 feet of water. Targeting snapper requires lighter tackle from the reel to hook. Small, sharp hooks help in landing more of these bandits. Using fluorocarbon leaders also plays a key role in catching more fish, especially because the waters offshore are more clear than the shallower waters near shore.

For the next couple of weeks, king mackerel anglers will find plenty of fish in our area. The larger fish have been just off the beach and feeding heavily on Spanish mackerel and ladyfish.

To stock up on ladyfish, go to a local pass at night and use Loves Lures or small bucktail jigs. These larger baits are much more fragile than the blue runners that are used offshore. Troll between 1 and 1.5 mph as these baits do not hold up for long when trolled faster.

Fishing for these big fish usually requires more patience and heavier tackle. The average 25-pound female king is 11 to 12 years old. Unlike the smaller fish, the larger kings will travel in small packs. These fish have made this trip before and know their way well, so it is not easy to trick them into eating. Therefore, any bait offering should look as natural as possible.

--Steve Papen

Redfish are Still Around

We are in a transitional period in Tampa Bay. The weather has changed dramatically and the water temperature continues to drop. Fish will be on the move, so expect abrupt changes in all aspects of fishing in our area.

Redfish are still prowling the flats. Recent low tides have bunched up fish into the potholes. When the water drains out on extreme tides, the deeper places will often hold large concentrations of fish.

During a recent trip, we found a way onto a shallow grass flat. We saw a large school of mullet milling around in a sandy depression. As we approached, numerous snook and redfish scattered. We anchored and started catching reds instantly on live greenbacks fished under clip-on floats with a No. 2 circle hook.

Be careful on the flats this time of year. The north winds that often accompany cold fronts can drain the water off the flats quickly. When venturing to the shallows for a late-season session, make sure the tide is coming in. Getting stuck right before nightfall on a cold day is no fun.

Snook are still actively feeding in preparation for the upcoming cold season. Freshwater tributaries or the mangrove backwaters are good places to search for them.

As it gets colder, snook activity will diminish as the water temperature drops. A snook's metabolic rate slows down so much that it almost doesn't have to eat. This is why greenbacks become much less desirable for live bait. A cold snook does not want to exert the effort to chase a fish when it can simply slurp up shrimp or some other slow-moving dinner.

A good holiday gift idea would be a dehooking device or a lip-gripping tool. Using either of these tools is much more fish-friendly than the conventional method of touching the fish. The tools also keep anglers away from sharp teeth, treble hooks or sharp gill plates.

If you must touch a fish, use a wet hand, never a towel. A towel will breach the slime layer that protects the fish from disease. This is especially true for spotted seatrout. If a fish is handled correctly, it has a great chance for survival.

Traditionally, this is the time of year when cobia follow the spotted eagle rays at the Apollo Beach power plant. On a calm day, the rays can be seen on the surface and often have several "hitch-hikers" on their backs. They cruise together but the cobia can be peeled off of the ray with the correct offering. The eel look-alike soft-plastic jigs get slurped up like spaghetti when presented in front.

Cobia are tenacious fighters and are known for on-deck theatrics that send anglers scrambling for higher ground.

--Dave Walker