Paddling Pursuits

By Terry Tomalin

Paddling through mangrove tunnels offers glimpses of Florida wildlife.

Russell Farrow remembers the day he would pull his kayak up on the beach and people would stop and stare.

“What is that thing?” they’d ask.

“A sea kayak,” Farrow replied.

“A what?” they’d say.

A lot has changed in the time that Farrow first began paddling the sheltered waters of Sarasota.

Mass production of the plastic sit-on-top kayak has revolutionized the way people access the clear, shallow water that is a trademark of Florida’s West Coast.

Long, sleek fiberglass kayaks with covered hatches and enclosed hulls have enabled adventurers to carry everything from beach chairs to sunshades on excursions that may last anywhere from an afternoon to a week.

“The kayak is really the ideal watercraft for Florida,” says Farrow, who has traveled as far as England to perfect his paddling stroke. “They are lightweight and can get in just about anywhere. All you do is throw it on top of your car and you are on your way.”

If you head south and start you kayak adventure in Venice, you can paddle out to The Pass and try your hand at a little kayak surfing.

The Venice area is one of the best surf spots on the West Coast of Florida, and the waves here a worth a ride if you have a short sit-on-top or whitewater boat.

You can paddle north up the Intracoastal Waterway if the wind and waves in the Gulf prove too much. On a calm day, there is no prettier trip than a paddle along Casey and Siesta keys on your way to Big Pass.

Tired of paddling? You can stop halfway into your trip where the ocean and Intracoastal are separated by a thin stretch of land that was once Midnight Pass, closed intentionally years ago.

The beach here is a great place to stop and comb through the sand in search of shark’s teeth. Like Venice Beach to the south, this beach has its share of fossilized remnants of predators that patrolled the oceans 65 million years ago.

If you take the inshore route, don’t forget to visit Bird Keys. Jump in at the parking lot and paddle south. As you exit the canal, keep the land on your right until you see the Birds Keys on your left.

Take your time to stop and explore. You’ll see every wading bird imaginable, including flamingos! It takes a couple of hours to complete this three-mile trip.

You can continue six miles up the Intracoastal to Big Sarasota Pass or hop back in the car and park on the northern portion of Siesta Key. From here you will have easy access to nearby Lido Key.

The best kayak trip on the West Coast of Florida, the paddle around Lido Key has a little bit of everything.

At the south end of the key, you’ll find a protected mangrove area that looks like something out of a Tarzan movie.

Be sure to paddle through the “tunnels” before heading north and crossing under the bridge that leads from downtown Sarasota to Lido Key.

The picnic tables at Ken Thompson Park on City Island offer a good place to stop for lunch. If time allows, you can also visit nearby Mote Aquarium, before heading out New Pass and back down the beach to your starting point at Siesta Key.

If you go:
If these trips sound too ambitious for the beginner, there are several Sarasota-area outfitters that offer guided tours of the same locations.

Economy Tackle, 6018 S. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, is one of the state’s largest kayak dealers. Call 941-922-9671 or visit www.floridakayak.com.

Siesta Sports Rentals, 6551 Midnight Pass Rd., Southbridge Mall, Siesta Key, offers kayak rentals and tours of the Jim Neville Marine Preserve. Call 941-346-1797 or visit www.siestasportsrentals.com.

Mote Aquarium offers a variety of guided trips, by sea kayak or 40-foot pontoon boat. Call 941-388-4200 or visit www.mote.org.