Experience the Home Waters of Hamilton Harbor

Tweet

 

By Captain Will Geraghty

So close yet seemingly so far away, the “Home Waters” of Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club possess a magical allure of adventure and excitement. Rich in natural history and teeming with unique flora and fauna, your coastal playground is just a short boat ride from Naples’ premier new marina.

From the deep reaches of the nearby Rookery Bay backcountry, a vast system of middle bays, pristine barrier island beaches and beyond, a comprehensive array of aquatic recreational activities can be experienced year round.

Angling Opportunities

Truly an angler’s paradise, the adjacent inshore and backcountry waters boast a world-class fishery for hard charging trophy gamefish. Tempting skills and wills, expect to tangle with snook, redfish and the mighty tarpon employing a variety of tactics and techniques. Try it on your own or have the staff at Hamilton Harbor “hook you up” with a professional guide. You will not be disappointed!

Breaching scenic Gordon Pass, the placid Gulf of Mexico provides a bounty of piscatorial options on the nearshore and offshore fishing grounds. Seasonal species such as permit, cobia and king mackerel are top targets through out the region, while the grouper and snapper are always biting. Fun for the novice, expert and family angler alike, nothing beats a great day of fishing on the Gulf!

Wildlife Abounds

Within a few paddles of Hamilton Harbor’s marina basin, canoe and kayak enthusiasts enter a coastal ecosystem that is truly a world of its own. As one travels south into the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve, a myriad of mangrove islands, shallow flats, oyster bars and tidal creeks harbor populations of unique bird and wildlife. Rivaling many places on earth, the area literally transforms into a birders mecca during the cooler months of late fall and winter.

Timing is critical in planning a bird watching excursion. Low early morning or late in the day tides provide for optimum viewing as many flats, bars and shorelines become exposed allowing an array of wading birds prime foraging.

Don’t forget your binoculars and field guide as innumerable herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills and ibis populate the backcountry areas while brown pelicans, hawks, ospreys and bald eagles majestically soar overhead.

More than just birdlife, prepare to observe the occasional whitetail deer, alligator and raccoon traversing the edges of the dense mangrove canopy as bottlenose dolphins and the West Indies manatee complete the adventure.

Paddling and exploring in such a spectacular setting is truly an intimate experience worth the effort!

Boating Bonanza

Here throughout the coastal region, day trips offer the recreational boater opportunities to experience many activities. Our barrier island Keewaydin affords the perfect setting for family picnics and beachcombing while supporting critical nesting habitat for the piping plovers and the loggerhead turtle alike. Remember, though, to keep the island pristine by “leaving no trace.”

For those who harness the wind, the consistent warm trade winds of summer and traditional winter offshores provide outstanding conditions to set sail. Under sail in no time, spectacular panoramic views of the historic Naples fishing pier and coastline will make your cruise a true escape.

Simply hopping aboard your vessel and just going for a ride will be a great opportunity to treat friends and family to all the waterfront has to offer. Impressive estate homes, tropical on-the-water dining and postcard worthy sunsets are just a sampling of the many highlights.

Remember, be safe and always file a float plan!

Destination Home Waters

Angling, excitement and adventure reign supreme the “Home Waters” of Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club. Now is the time to experience a destination where warm and vivid memories will remain with you forever!

Captain Will Geraghty is a professional light tackle fishing guide and freelance outdoor writer living in Naples, Florida.