provided the Santiva Chronicle
Depart from McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 for a cruise to Pine Island, returning at 3 p.m.
The journey will focus on the fishing cultures of the Pine Island Sound, encompassing more than a thousand years of fishing — from the indigenous Calusa and Spanish-Cuban fishing era, to commercial fishing with the Punta Gorda Fish and Ice Company and on up to today, including the area’s incredible sport fishing.
The tour will travel to the community of Pineland on Pine Island. The historic fish houses of the Sound will be seen along the way, as well as North Captiva, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key and Useppa Island.
“The ecology and the importance of the back bay estuary are discussed, which is the common denominator throughout time. The cultural history, wildlife and present day living are all intricately tied into the waters around the islands,” Captiva Cruises educator Richard Finkel reported. “Dolphins and a variety of birds are often seen while cruising the waters Pine Island Sound.”
On Pine Island, participants will disembark for lunch at the Tarpon Lodge. They will learn about the family business’ storied tradition of fishing the Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. An historic home converted into an inn and restaurant, the lodge dates back to the mid 1920s. Today it maintains that “old Florida charm.”
After lunch, there will be an opportunity for a guided walk along the Calusa Heritage Trail at the Randell Research Center to learn about the indigenous fishing culture of the Sound. A program of the Florida Museum of Natural History, the facility is dedicated to learning and teaching the archaeology, history and ecology of Southwest Florida through the Pineland archaeological and historical site.
The cost is $50 for adults and seniors and $35 for ages 12 and under.
Reservations are required; lunch is not included with the cost. Saturday Jan. 20 will be the first of four of these cruises offered this season. The other dates are Feb. 7, March 9 and March 20.
For more information or reservations, call 239-472-5300 or visit www.captivacruises.com.
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