What began as a fishing lesson became a journey of discovery that continues today.
When I was growing up in New Jersey during the 1970s, my mother would take us “down the shore.”
That’s what we called going to the beach.
I remember the ocean water having a sort of tan-green color. You definitely couldn’t see the bottom, even when you were only standing knee-deep in it!
And the temperature?
Freezing!
At least that’s how I remember it. Even in the summertime, getting into that water was quite an experience.
The sand was different, too. Coarser and browner than the beaches I would eventually discover in Florida.
But those were the beaches I knew. That was my experience of the ocean.
I had no idea that one day I would discover something so completely different.
A Whole New World
When I was about sixteen years old, my family traveled to Coral Springs, Florida, to visit my cousins.
I remember being absolutely amazed.
It was October, yet the days were hot and the evenings were still warm!
Growing up in New Jersey, October meant cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and the beginning of autumn.
But not here!
Everything seemed different. The air, the plants, the palm trees, and especially the beautiful water I encountered in Florida.
It reminded me of those exotic places I’d watched on television.
You know, Hawaii Five-O or maybe even Gilligan’s Island!
Those tropical places had always seemed like another world to me. Something you might see on television but never really experience for yourself.
Yet here I was, discovering that places like this actually existed!
Years later, when I moved to Clearwater, Florida, in 2001, I remember thinking that the name finally made sense.
Clearwater!
Compared with the beaches I remembered growing up, it seemed like the perfect name.
As I settled into life in Florida, I started hearing stories from locals about the beautiful islands along the Gulf Coast.
They talked about the water, the beaches, the wildlife, and places you could reach only by boat.
Naturally, I became curious.
I had to experience these islands for myself!
Meeting Captain Gerry
Eventually, I met a man named Captain Gerry.
He offered to introduce me to saltwater fishing, something I had never experienced before.
Up until then, all my fishing had been in freshwater. Lakes, ponds, and rivers were familiar to me.
But fishing in the Gulf of Mexico?
That was something entirely new!
Captain Gerry took me out toward Anclote Island, and what happened next was something I will never forget.
I was absolutely overwhelmed by what I saw.
It was almost like a shock to my brain!
I literally couldn’t believe I was in a place like this.
The water was so clear that I could look over the side of the boat and see many feet down to the bottom.
Imagine that!
Coming from a childhood of swimming in the murky waters along the Jersey Shore, this was incredible to me.
And it wasn’t just the water.
There were palm trees, unfamiliar plants, birds, beautiful beaches, and an atmosphere that seemed completely foreign to everything I had known growing up.
Even the smell of the ocean seemed different.
The warm air, the scenery, and the peaceful surroundings reminded me of those tropical places I had watched on television as a kid.
Except this time, I wasn’t watching television.
I was actually there!
The Fishing Trip That Became an Adventure
Captain Gerry had brought me out to teach me how to fish in saltwater.
But there was one small problem.
I couldn’t stop looking around!
Everything was so fascinating that I had questions about almost everything I saw.
What kind of plant is that?
What birds live here?
What kinds of fish are swimming around these islands?
I was so captivated by the surroundings that learning how to fish almost became an afterthought.
I think Captain Gerry recognized what was happening.
He could see how curious I was, and rather than insisting we concentrate on fishing, he just went with it!
Before I knew it, our fishing trip had become an exploration of Anclote Island.
Captain Gerry became my guide to an environment I knew almost nothing about.
He introduced me to the island’s vegetation, its birds, and the wildlife living in the surrounding waters.
I began learning about cabbage palms, sea grape trees with their big rounded leaves, and mangroves growing along the shoreline with their unusual roots.
Even the vegetation fascinated me!
Then there were the birds.
Pelicans, herons, and ospreys are among the remarkable birds of these coastal waters. I also learned that the surrounding islands provide important habitat for shorebirds such as American oystercatchers, black skimmers, and terns.
And the fish!
Redfish, spotted seatrout, snook, and sheepshead are just a few of the species found in these coastal waters.
I had spent years fishing in freshwater, but this was an entirely different world.
Every plant, bird, and fish seemed to raise another question.
And Captain Gerry patiently went along with my curiosity.
I had come expecting a fishing lesson.
Instead, I was discovering an entire coastal ecosystem!
Looking back, I think that’s what made the experience so memorable.
Someone had taken the time to introduce me to something unfamiliar, answer my questions, and share a place that meant something to him.
I had set out to learn how to catch fish.
Instead, I discovered an entirely new world.
An Island with a Story of Its Own
As I became more familiar with Anclote Island, I discovered that this beautiful place had a fascinating history of its own.
Anclote Key lies off the coast near Tarpon Springs, Florida. It is part of a protected group of barrier islands surrounded by the Gulf’s shallow coastal waters.
The area includes sandy beaches, dunes, coastal vegetation, and important wildlife habitats.
But one of the most interesting features is its historic lighthouse.
The Anclote Key Lighthouse was first illuminated in 1887, long before modern navigation technology existed.
Think about that for a moment.
For generations, sailors and fishermen relied on coastal landmarks and navigation lights to help them travel safely through these waters.
Today, that lighthouse is a reminder of how important these islands have been to people exploring and working along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
I find it fascinating to imagine how different this area must have looked more than a century ago.
No GPS navigation on a screen.
No modern electronics showing the way.
Just the sea, the stars, local knowledge, and landmarks like that lighthouse.
And here I was, all these years later, exploring those same waters with Captain Gerry.
The Adventure Never Ended
That first trip to Anclote Island left an impression on me that has never faded.
But here’s what makes this story even better.
The adventure never really ended!
Captain Gerry and I still get together one Tuesday every month to go fishing.
Over the years, we’ve explored the different islands around the bay, discovering new places and revisiting familiar ones.
And yes, we actually fish now!
But even after all these years, I’m still learning.
There’s always something new to notice.
Sometimes it’s the wildlife. Sometimes it’s the water or the weather. Sometimes it’s something about the landscape that I hadn’t noticed before.
And there’s one particular fish that keeps us coming back with a little extra anticipation.
The One That Keeps Getting Away
Of all the fish living in these waters, there’s one that Captain Gerry is especially passionate about.
The tarpon!
Often called the “Silver King,” tarpon are magnificent fish known for their incredible size, strength, and spectacular leaps out of the water.
But there’s something else I’ve learned about them.
They’re not easy to catch!
There’s a seasonal rhythm to tarpon fishing, and these fish can be incredibly selective about what they’ll eat.
They’re also remarkably wary.
Sometimes the slightest disturbance can send them swimming away before you ever get a chance to cast.
Captain Gerry and I are always keeping an eye out for tarpon during our adventures, especially when they’re moving through the area.
And here’s the funny part.
After all these years, we still haven’t caught one!
But that hasn’t stopped us from trying.
In fact, I think the challenge makes the adventure even more interesting.
Every trip brings another opportunity. Another chance to learn something. Another reason to keep exploring.
And who knows?
Maybe one of these Tuesdays will finally be the day we catch our first tarpon!
An Island That Never Stays the Same
One of the most fascinating things I’ve discovered during our monthly adventures is that these islands are constantly changing.
When I first started exploring them, I thought of islands as permanent pieces of land.
An island was an island, right?
You could return year after year and expect it to look pretty much the same.
Well, I’ve learned that’s not necessarily true!
I’ve personally watched the shorelines change, the sand shift, and entire areas begin to look different.
Especially after a storm.
Three Rooker Island is a perfect example.
During our more recent visits, I’ve witnessed what appears to be a new pass forming through the island. The northern portion, which I remember being much larger, has changed dramatically.
Areas that once seemed like more substantial land have become sand flats.
And I’ve watched these changes happen over time!
That fascinated me enough to learn more about how these islands actually work.
I discovered that Three Rooker is a relatively young island. It emerged during the 1970s and 1980s as currents gradually accumulated sand above the water.
An island that formed during my lifetime!
That’s incredible to me.
And the changes didn’t stop once the island formed.
Waves, tides, currents, and storms continue moving sand around. Some parts erode while others grow. Powerful storms can reshape the shoreline much more dramatically.
Historical reports have documented storms splitting portions of Three Rooker and widening channels through the island.
The recent changes I’ve observed during our own trips are part of that larger, ongoing process.
Suddenly, I began to see these islands differently.
They weren’t simply pieces of land surrounded by water.
They were landscapes constantly being reshaped by the forces of nature.
And I was fortunate enough to watch some of those changes happen with my own eyes.
Even the land beneath our feet is on a journey of its own.
And that’s one more reason I never get tired of returning. No matter how familiar a place becomes, nature always has something new to show me.
Still Discovering
Sometimes I think back to those childhood trips down the Jersey Shore with my mother.
The cold water, the brownish sand, and the ocean I couldn’t see through even when I was standing knee-deep.
Then I remember being sixteen years old, visiting Florida and discovering a world that seemed almost tropical beyond belief.
And eventually, there’s that first boat ride with Captain Gerry.
I can still remember looking over the side of the boat, seeing through that beautiful clear water, and wondering how a place like this could actually exist.
All those years later, we still return to these islands.
We still explore.
We still fish.
And I still find myself asking questions.
Perhaps that’s what I’ve come to appreciate most about Anclote Island and the surrounding waters.
The scenery is beautiful, of course.
But the greatest discovery wasn’t just the island.
It was realizing that one experience could open the door to years of adventures, learning, and memories.
And the best part?
The journey is still going!
Join the Discovery
Have you ever traveled somewhere that looked or felt completely different from anything you’d experienced growing up?
Maybe it was a beach, a mountain, a forest, or even a place close to home that you had never explored.
Did you ever meet someone who introduced you to a new experience and changed the way you saw the world?
Or have you revisited a familiar place over the years and noticed how nature has changed it?
I’d love to hear about your discoveries.
Sometimes the most extraordinary adventures begin with something as simple as accepting an invitation.
And sometimes they become traditions that last a lifetime.
Behind the Discovery
My fascination with Florida’s Gulf Coast began long before I ever stepped onto Anclote Island.
It began with memories of the Jersey Shore, a teenage visit to Coral Springs, and a growing curiosity about the beautiful places I kept hearing about after moving to Clearwater in 2001.
But it was Captain Gerry who helped turn that curiosity into a real adventure.
What started as a saltwater fishing lesson became an unexpected exploration of the island.
I had so many questions that he simply changed course and became my guide.
That first experience stayed with me.
And today, our monthly Tuesday fishing trips continue to remind me that even familiar places can offer something new.
Sometimes it’s a bird, a fish, or an unfamiliar plant.
Sometimes it’s an entire shoreline that has changed since our last visit.
And sometimes it’s just that wonderful feeling of being somewhere beautiful, looking around, and remembering how amazed I was the first time I saw it.
And somewhere out there, perhaps a tarpon is waiting for Captain Gerry and me.
What did you discover today?
Discover the Journey.
Photographs and illustrative imagery supplied or approved for this Discovery Article.