Fellow Listers, I have tried over the year's to describe my remarkable home waters. Below is a blurb from Captain Rodney Smith which I reproduce with his permission. This is what I have been trying to say . JG
With These Hands Each Day I Pray in Thankfulness of the Indian Lagoon At 5:17 AM, over a bowl of Granola, Shredded Wheat, milk and egg nog ( understand there are bands of milk guzzling teenager boys daily consuming gallons of cow juice from the Smith household; for this reason I needed to include egg nog to top my nutritious start to the day after draining the last 1/4 cup of a gallon of 1% I purchased last evening) I count my blessings. I was chewing and reading Mike Thomas's (Orlando Sentential columnists) insights on why Orlando's Mayor Glenda Hood had to move on and out of Micky's World. See Mike Thomas's family lives in the greater Orlando area sixty miles west of here, where millions of years ago ocean waves broke. I bet Mike wishes the ocean was still in his backyard, but the ocean receded east. forming sandbars, and blackish water pools or lagoons. Satellite Beach, where our family lives, is a small community wedged between the Banana Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Satellite Beach actually sits right on top of a massive sandbar (called a barrier island), that was left behind when the ocean receded from Mike's back yard. This sandbar parallels Florida's Indian River Lagoon for over one hundred and sixty miles. The Lagoon separates Florida's mainland from the barrier island. The Indian River Lagoon, not a river in any way, is defined by three individual lagoons: the Banana, Indian and Mosquito Lagoons. Early settlers name these lagoons the "Indian River", they ignored it's original Indian name "Great lagoon of the Ais' named in honor of the Ais Indians who once ruled the Lagoon area. The Ais were feared warriors who dominated the region and benefited from it's abundant fishing, hunting and shell fishing opportunities. Today these Lagoons support a diverse and fragile ecosystem. This ecosystem is beneficial to a great number of wildlife species, 4,315 in all! Manatee, sea turtles, bottle-nose dolphin and some 2,956 other animal species including 1,350 plants species, and 700 salt and fresh water fish live in this Lagoon system. These resources benefits all of the area's residents and visitors. When I think of the Lagoon there are many things that come to my mind. It's shallow, crystal clear waters are teaming with some of the world's best sight fishing for red & black drum, spotted sea trout, snook, tarpon and many other species of gamefish. The easy access to this fishing can be reached by simply finding a spot on the shore of the lagoon, grabbing your pole and wading (be sure to do the "string ray shuffle" to avoid the painful wound delivered from the ray's barbed spike hidden under their long tails) out into it's fertile waters. There are unlimited boating, skiing, sail boarding, kite surfing and wade surfing opportunities right at our doorstep. We are able to observe awesome wildlife like manatee, bottle nose dolphin, and osprey in their native habitat simply by driving along the lagoon and looking out your vehicle's window. On any given day the lagoon supplies great latitude to those who revere the outdoors. Whether you're chasing crabs, dripping shrimp, digging clams, or just enjoying it's peaceful ambience, the Indian River Lagoon's beauty is as subtle it's changes of season and as powerful as it is unique. Til nextime... Capt. Rod Florida Guidelines One Hour East of Orlando (888)-800-9794 http://www.flguidelines.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com [EMAIL PROTECTED]
