Discover Englewood 2023
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T he waters around Englewood are among the most productive fishing areas in the state of Florida. Lemon Bay is part of the Charlotte Harbor estuary system, which has been documented to be home for more than 250 species of fish. Lemon Bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Manasota Key and Don Pedro Island. The inshore waters are usually calm enough to navigate safely in small boats and even paddlecraft. In fact, the biggest waves you're likely to encounter here are from the wake of other vessels. Hundreds of acres of lush seagrasses provide shelter for millions of small fish, shrimp and crabs. These are hunted by larger predators — sea trout, redfish, snook, tarpon and other gamefish — which are, in turn, stalked by anglers all year long. On shallower grassflats, many fishermen will temporarily abandon ship and wade fish. It's often easier to sneak up on wary fish when you're on foot. Backwater creeks on the mainland side of the bay are lined by thousands of mangrove trees. These trees, which have the unique ability to grow in salty mud, also offer many small animals places to hide. When the tide is high, larger fish, drawn by the endless buffet, also find their way in. Inshore anglers must learn this cycle of how fish feed in different areas at different stages of the tide if they are to be consistently successful. Although our tides are not huge, with only a little more than 2 feet of movement in the bay, they are constantly in flux. In the shallow waters at the edges of the bay, fish must be constantly on the move. Stump Pass provides the only direct connection between Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Currents here can be very strong as water flows back and forth with rising and falling tides. This current carries with it a bounty of food, and hungry fish use it to their advantage. When the tide flows out, they position themselves on the Gulf side of the pass, waiting for hapless prey to be flushed past. As the tide reaches its low point and then reverses, the predators move to the bay side and await a new feeding frenzy. Because they're always on the lookout for baitfish moving with the water, a smart fisherman will allow the water to carry his offering to the fish. Although local Gulf beaches are better known for sunbathing and shelling, they offer plenty of opportunities to fishermen. Here, too, it's necessary to pay attention to currents. Watch as the waves roll in. Rarely do they come straight onto the beach. Instead, they usually approach from the northwest. That's because of the longshore current, a constant flow of water along the beach from north to south. Baitfish and other prey are moved along the shore by this flow, and most gamefish will face into it while they hunt. So your best bet is to wade out to waist depth, then cast your bait north and reel it back in toward you. Incidentally, this same longshore current is the reason beach renourishment must be redone periodically — sand, like baitfish, is constantly being carried south. The open waters of the Gulf hold a plethora of highly sought species, By land or see, FISHING continued on page 26 fi nd fi sh in Englewood's creeks, ponds, bays, Gulf of Mexico By Josh Olive Discover Englewood 2023 24