The trip started at Chokoloskee with excitement brewing in the air. As we strolled into the ranger station, the original thought was to stay on Mormon Key, which is south of the Chatham River in the Gulf of Mexico. After winds began to blow out of the west the plan soon changed. The alternate site was Watson’s Place. The journey involved Scott B’s SeaRay and Steve’s “Blue Blunder” , a 12ft homemade boat with a kicker 20 Merc. Our route consisted of shallow waters (especially for the SeaRay), curving creeks, a map, and a set of two-way radios. Finally, after following the snaked path and a couple of porpoises through the channels, the site emerged. Watson’s Place gets its name from the outlaw of the everglades, Ed Watson. The original foundation of his house still stands after all these years. The site was rather large and set up right on Chatham Bend. There was about three miles between us and the Gulf Of Mexico. We set up camp and deciding to go for an evening session. Steve and I set off in the Blue Blunder to work the edges of the mangroves and spot some areas for the morning. No fish for us on the boat before dark, but the other boat was fighting a big one. Doug and Scott had set a drift across a shallow sandbar area that ended into the main channel of the river. Doug hooked into (what we like to call), “A Black Drum Baby”. He fought the fish in with light tackle and a heart full of excitement. Later at the campsite, talking stories and eating on some pork chops and rice, there came a sound out of the river. No, can’t be, damn spring-breakers!! 10 or so canoes pulled up at 9:30 at night out of the black river. After coming to an agreement with the so-called leader, we moved our campsite over to the back of the area and resumed our trip. Day 2 provided us with great weather for a potential good fishing day. Now I’m with Scott B and we set off for the river mouth and oyster bars. I got a chance to land my first ever snook, thanks to Scott B setting me up on the edge of a mangrove root where the current was active. Next we were close to the oyster bars to find some fish moving off and into the Gulf. Snook were balling the minnows up and attacking with explosive splashes. I was on again with another snook and was now smiling very big. We worked our way through the mazes of oyster beds towards a lonely island mangrove with good action around it. Scott says “I bet there is a fish with my name on it around that mangrove”, so we went forward to be able to cast on it. Sure enough , a big-ole snook slammed his topwater lure and started doing spectacular jumps out of the water. The action was on! Great fish. After poleing around for a while, a small problem happened. Scott and I were without a working motor on the SeaRay and was close to getting stuck on the dry oyster bars. The Blue Blunder was kind enough to lend a rope and pulling power to get us back to the campsite. With one boat down, single trips were made with the Blue Blunder. It provided much success in the evening time and a way back to civilization a couple of days later. Scott B caught two nice snook on topwater again and that provided all of us with a great fish dinner. If you have never eaten a campsite snook mark that down on your to-do list. Day 3 began with a quick fishing trip and a decision to find a way back to the marina. Doug and Steve set off for the boat ramp and left Scott B and I to wait at the campsite. As time crept bye, we were wondering what was happening and when they would return. Finally they rounded the bend and that brought smiles on our faces. They had no answer on how we were going to get out of this situation, just a twelve-pack of beer and more turkey!! The following day, the ranger towed the boat in and we were once again back on land. Although the trip had a twist, it will always be considered as a truly wonderful expedition amongst friends.
B.S.Everett 8/19/02
