OFF THE BEATEN PATH

By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

When the seas are not conducive for fishing or I don’t have a charter booked, you can find me doing ecotours through the Tavernier Creek mangrove trails. The trails are special! They are not accessible by boat, only kayaks or paddle boards, and most people don’t even know they exist. The mangroves serve so many special purposes on our little island chain, and it gives me much pleasure to teach people about them and have them experience the vast array of wildlife found within them. The mangroves serve as our fish nurseries, so the abundance of fish is amazing as well as crabs, jellyfish, birds, and so much more.

I had one of those perfect trips recently with the Farnsworth family from Michigan. Their 2 young children were absolutely brilliant and hung on my every word as I talked to them about the ecosystem. These children were so bright that they even asked lots of intelligent questions as well. We entered the trail head that day and our first encounter was with a manatee. Great start to the trip! As we moved through the trails and the mangrove canopy got more lush and narrow, the adventure just got better and better. The children handled a harmless Cassiopea jellyfish and were curious, excited and so involved in this tour. The end of that amazing trip was the best. As we were coming back out of the trail, mullet started popping out of the water 4 or 5 feet in the air around one of their kayaks and one even landed IN their kayak! Sheer delight for the whole family and myself. They got a real Keys experience that they will not soon forget, and neither will I.

Yesterday was another epic day. I took two large groups out at different times. On both of the trips there was an American Crocodile laying on a small bank for all to see. We took turns getting close enough to take pictures but far enough away to not disturb the beautiful creature.

This kayak ecotour is an affordable way to get your family and friends out on the water and experience one of the most diverse and delicate ecosystems in North America. It’s also a great way to enjoy a special Keys experience when the weather does not permit for fishing or snorkeling. To make your reservation go to keyskayak.com and use the coupon code Ask4Angelia to get a discount.

Another great touch to these tours is returning to our dock to a quaint and lovely restaurant called Dockside Raw Bar and Grill. It has a great menu (try the lobster roll!) and cold drinks for you to cool off after your ecotour experience. With live music on Wednesday night and a lovely “keysy” gift shop, owner Angel Borden has done a fabulous job!!

— Come out fishing with me by contacting me at: floridasaltycowgirl.com | 813-610-0078