By Jan Stephen Maizler
Posted Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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 Jan Stephen Maizler has been a South Florida resident
and angler his entire life. He
is a past IGFA world record holder for bonefish on two pound line and permit on four pound line. He has
caught and released over two thousand bonefish in his angling career. He
has published over one hundred
articles and seven books, most notably Flats Fishing II, and Fishing Florida's
Coast (available at www.flatsfishingonline.com, Amazon.com,
Barnes and
Nobles.com. and Bookamillion.com). Jan also
specializes in trip plans for anglers on
cruiseships anywhere in the world.
Contact Info:
Office: 305-573-3371
Home Office:
305-940-1564
Email The Author
Visit His Web Site
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Back from South Seas Island Resort...
With fall blasting away into SOFLA I made my way to South Seas Island Resort(http:www.southseas.com) at the northern tip of Captiva Island. I left northeast winds of 25- 35 m.p.h. on the Gold Coast: it was clear fall approached with its big high tides flooding A1A at Hollywood Beach. Schools of migrating finger mullet have been pushed south by the onshore winds and the clearly shortening days. The weather on the west coast was better- no clouds but 25 mph NE winds. Skies were cleared the day following the front, but the shallow Gulf gave better lee conditions than Pine Island Sound.
There were huge quantities of minnows, whitebait, and mullet in the shallow Gulf. The area about a half-mile off the beach was full of predator species pursuing this bait.
OUR CATCH AND RELEASE:
The vast bulk of mackeral (to 5 lbs) , big ladyfish ( to 3 lbs), and sharks ( to 80 lbs) were caught and released casting to busting-up whitebait schools in the Gulf with baitcasting tackle and bucktails. We could have caught them fish after fish. Due to time, Capt. Tom Walsh ran to a canal in the Sound where I took 2 snook in a row about 15 lbs. each.
At sunset on my own, I fly cast the beaches and got into non-stop ladyfish action hitting minnows, as well as an ocassional croaker or "sugar trout". None of my casts were longer that 30 feet as the fish were in the wash.
THE RESORT:
This destination offered fantastic fishing out of a resort that has emerged from Hurricane Charley (with massive rebuilding and improvements) to become the foremost and most diverse angling, eco-, and family oriented resort in the entire Sanibel-Captiva area. South Seas Island Resort's lodgings, cuisine, services, amenities, and dedicated fishing programs are 5-star: a perfect place for fishing families, and anglers with non-angling friends and family.
South Seas Island Resort provides anglers with great fishing on the fly or light tackle for loads of gamesters in a huge habitat in an exotic setting. The end of my day was heightened by a gourmet meal at South Seas Harbourside Bar and Grill:
The wines, daquiris, fruit punches were delicious and priced reasonably.
I dined on a "captiva salad" with various greens, cashews, and blackberries served in a 45-degree "display bowl"- it was delightful.
My entree was a chicken roulade stuffed with italian hams and accompanied with al dente garden vegetables and a sweet potato puree. I topped it off with a semi-fruity domestic merlot.
Though the desserts were sinful, I was too satisfied with the dinner to over-do such a good thing.
As for activities, there are pools, beaches, water sports, eco cruises,sailboats, shopping, holiday celebrations, kid's club, golf, tennis...the list seems endless!
I'll be writing much more about this adventure in Florida Sport Fishing Magazine in the near future.
CONTACT DATA:
South Seas Island Resort
5400 Plantation Road
Captiva Island
1-239-472-5111
cschwan@luxuryresorts.com
www.southseas.com
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