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Tarpon Lodge in the news:


Southwest Florida's Island Gems

November 05, 2009

by Jeff Dennis, Outdoor Correspondent Charleston Mercury

http://charlestonmercury.com/articles/2009/11/05/outdoors/doc4af2faa2ac57f132133304.txt


Let Fort Myers International Airport serve as the gateway to some of the last remaining enclaves of Old Florida, where habitat and service are equally ample. Captiva, Sanibel, Pine Island, Cabbage Key and Boca Grande all offer access to a thriving saltwater ecosystem that calls the winter months its peak season. Learn about the ancient civilization of Native Americans that used to rule southwest Florida, and observe the diversity of bird life while in pursuit of snook, tarpon and redfish.

Calusa life was oriented to the water, and the canals served as their highways. The Calusa once controlled all of south Florida, and they made use of the native elements making fishhooks of carved bone and tools from shells. As late as 1687 the Calusa still thrived, but European disease, war and slavery eventually wiped them out. Between 1704 and 1710 Yemassee Indians ravaged south Florida, making slaves of the Calusa to profit from selling them to the English in Charleston, which is a sobering footnote that ties the Lowcountry directly to the once prosperous Calusa tribe.

Fishing out of the Tarpon Lodge can offer many different pursuits. General manager Rob Wells III said, “When the snook are biting you can see and hear the activity, and the snook aren’t under the mangroves so much as they are near the sandy potholes.” With this advice in mind I joined a charter group with Captain Josh Harvel of Yakin’ It Up kayak charters, launching from the southern end of Pine Island which is known as Matlacha (pronounced matt la chey).

Paddling 30 minutes down another section of the Great Calusa Blueway the fishing party reached Indian Flats, a manatee-protection zone where outboard motors are not allowed. The shallow water was covered by turtle grass, except for those conspicuous sandy potholes which are fairly easy to spot through Oakley polarized sunglasses. Using seven-foot medium action rods long enough to “reach” around the front of the kayak during a fish fight, my using the Riptide Saltwater Lures proved to be productive for snook, trout, jack crevalle and redfish that day.

When I returned to the lodge (TarponLodge.com) after a day of sometimes strenuous paddling, the bar staff politely inquired about the day’s fishing and asked if a house specialty Rum Runner drink was warranted. After a shower to remove the salty residue from kayaking, and a change of clothes in the Sanibel suite, I knew it was time to dine. The Tarpon Lodge boasts a four-star restaurant; the chef and menu have made an impact over time.

For starters, their blue crab and roasted corn chowder has been selected as one of southwest Florida’s 100 dishes to eat before you die. I found the Pine Island Sound crab cakes served with Rosenblum Cellar’s chardonnay to please the palette, and the sunset view of Pine Island Sound made for pleasing visual aesthetics as well. The special was flame-seared tripletail with smoked vegetable ragu and mushroom jasmine rice pilaf. Dessert came in the form of a kahlua crème brule, capping the culinary gamut that did not disappoint.