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Testing the waters
By MIKE SCARANTINO What do you get when you assemble 30-plus journalists, broadcasters and outdoor enthusiasts in a beautiful setting? Incredible fun and scads of good story ideas. Last weekend, such a gathering was held at a Homosassa riverside resort. There was fishing, kayaking and canoeing, sightseeing, airboating, hiking and bike rides. There was great food, lessons in history and fabulous weather that gave participants a chance to see the area at its finest. The upper reaches of the Homosassa River has a certain ambiance about it. The area combines the rustic warmth and hospitality of old Florida with the fun of the new culture. Residents embrace the past yet invite newcomers and visitors to enjoy the quiet backwater haven. A few miles below the Homosassa spring, the river comes to a bottleneck where there are resorts for weekend getaways. Restaurants serve fresh seafood. Some are produced from fishing trips downriver on the Gulf. A quiet pulse of activity begins early on the river. Crabbers and fishing vessels head out for a day on the glimmering waters. Some of the boats are operated by the Homosassa Guides Association. The organization is among the state's oldest, and many of the guides are multigenerational. They know the waters intimately, having learned from past generations and by their own mistakes. The intricate web of small creeks, keys and shallow back bayous that make up the area can be treacherous to the uninitiated. It is worthwhile to spend time learning from the professionals. In the midst of the bottleneck are two launch ramps for those wanting to go it alone. One ramp is right beside MaCraes fish camp at the end of S. Cherokee Way. The other is inside the Homosassa Riverside resort and costs $5 to use. An abundance of fuel stops and bait and tackle stores are convenient to both ramps. Among Friday's group activities were fishing the Gulf and a kayak trip on the river's newly marked trail. Scheduled for the afternoon were craft improvement seminars and trips to see attractions that make up the Nature Coast. At night, there was a huge steak barbecue at the river's edge. Saturday was the finality to the weekend for some. Others stayed into Sunday. At dusk, there was an old-fashion crawdad and shrimp boil. Some of us ended the weekend Sunday afternoon by taking a river safari aboard Capt. Tommy Lehman's airboat. He took us over the shallow waters of Mason Creek and Sam's Bayou, out to the Gulf, then back up the Little Homosassa River. The weather never faltered. We enjoyed warm days, cool nights and constant soft breezes that kept the normally burgeoning population of no-seeums at bay. The outdoor activities were more than can be enjoyed in a weekend. Fortunately, the area is just a stone's throw along the coast. It is a great place to visit and play hard. -- If you have a question or comment, call Capt. Mike Scarantino, (352) 683-4868.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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