Every angler has heard such admonishments as "You should have been here yesterday," or "things'll get better tomorrow."
Fortunately, neither excuse was needed during an aqua safari from the Pithlachascotee River that included Steve Marusak, inventor of the now famous Cotee Liv'Eye Action Jig.
The river, which winds its way through New Port Richey on Florida's west-central coastline in Pasco County, empties into the Gulf of Mexico onto hundreds of square miles of lush and largely undisturbed grass flats where trout abound.
First, if you're having trouble pronouncing Pithlachascotee, don't worry about it because everybody else does too. Instead, down through the years, natives have shortened it to an easier-to-handle Cotee River.
"I suppose that we'll all have to use your jig," I remarked to Marusak at the city launching ramp before casting off.
"Look," he replied, "I don't give a (bleep) what you guys use. But, I know what you'll change over to when you see me catching fish while you're getting zilch."
Within 20 minutes of leaving the dock and motoring down the Cotee River into the Gulf of Mexico, we shut off our engines and began drifting the grass flats in 12 to 14 feet of water.
The day was bright, the tide was incoming, and a 10 to 15 mph wind out of the east created a good, though not uncomfortable, chop on the water's surface.
We would all cast against the wind, let our jigs sink, and then raise the offerings with a short jerk or upward sweep of the rod without turning the reel's handle. At Marusak's suggestion we used a 1/4-ounce yellow jig head and a motor oil (or root beer) colored Chubby Grub tail.
No sooner had the "unsweetened" or non-tipped jigs hit the water than keeper trout began jumping all over them. Without exaggeration, each of us got a strike and/or a fish on every cast.
While most of the trout caught were barely keeper size (16 inches) we did manage to land many in the two- to three-pound class as well.
"As recently as two weeks ago," said Marusak, "we were getting them up to five and six pounds. But the big 'uns seemed to have moved off somewhere in recent days."
Keeping track of the varieties that were caught during a trip that started after sunup and ended nine hours later, here's how the scorecard read (in round numbers):
By totaling these numbers, we found that we had caught and released 689 fish of various species. Add to this an equal number that were hooked but lost and you arrive at figures bordering upon extraordinary.
Naturally, I've been back to the Pithlachascotee River several times since that initial trip. I have never been skunked and usually did quite well, especially in the spring and early summer months, although--in honesty--I've never equaled the total of my first sojourn, nor do I really expect to again.
Other varieties of fish caught on subsequent trips include redfish to 15 pounds, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, drum, red grouper, kingfish, sugar trout, houndfish, and tarpon. In the river I've seen snook to 26 pounds in the cooler months, largemouth bass to 11 pounds, speckled perch, shellcrackers, sunshine bass, bluegills, and warmouth perch.
As rivers go, the Pithlachascotee is quite short. With its headwaters at Crews Lake near Highway 52 in western Pasco County, the 25 mile-long river meanders on a south by southwest course through primitive swamplands to the city of New Port Richey before emptying into the Gulf.
In the wilder and more inaccessible portions of the river, which is an exploration challenge--even by canoe--native and migratory wildlife and waterfowl can be found in rich abundance. Deer, turkey, bear, otter, and raccoon are numerous as are ducks, occasional geese, doves, and other birdlife, both common and uncommon.
As the turning and twisting river, which is fed by more than 50 springs, begins to widen, you encounter signs of civilization in the form of trailers and scattered waterfront homes. Drawing closer to the City of New Port Richey, things become a bit more crowded, docked boats more frequent, and marinas increasingly numerous.
At the mouth of the Pithlachascotee River you'll see a dozen or so well-maintained stilt houses that are privately owned and used mainly on weekends by those wanting to get away from it all.
Most of these homes on stilts were constructed after a 1968 hurricane wiped out the previous structures. Prior to rebuilding, the State of Florida required proof of previous ownership before issuing the required building permits.
Several Indian mounds can be seen along the Pithlachascotee's banks. One, which was discovered in 1879 by explorer S. T. Walker, is said to have been a temple mound dating back to the Wheeden Island community era of about 1000 A.D. Another, excavated in 1903 by Clarence Moore, was later destroyed by development. One that has been preserved is named the Olesner Mound.
Before a 1960 channel dredging project, fishermen and boaters had to leave and enter the river on high tides. Even today boaters can easily run aground when not staying in the well-marked channel.
How the river got its name is a subject for debate.
One version is that Pithlachascotee is a Seminole Indian word meaning, "River Where Canoes Are Made."
Another--and the one I like better-- centers on an Indian princess named Pithla and the son of a Spanish missionary named Chasco who, it is said, were watching a full moon one evening while standing on the banks of the Cotee (meaning "meandering river" in the Indian language) and became amorous.
Unfortunately, the story goes, Pithla's father--the chief-- was prejudiced against either Hispanics or missionaries and terminated this passionate pow-wow by having the couple sacrificed on an altar erected in honor of the great sun god, Ra.
Each year the City of New Port Richey hosts the Chasco Fiesta, a commemoration to this grim and unrequited love affair with a gala boat parade, an art show, and food booths in a local park overlooking the river.
Despite seawalls, heavy development along its banks, and high-rise condos west of U.S. Highway 19 toward the Gulf, the Pithlachascotee still holds many charms.
Once removed from the sounds of highway traffic, the upper portions of the river features a self-contained stillness broken only by bird calls or the rustling of small animals along its banks.
After leaving the mouth of the Pithlachascotee you are greeted by an expanse of open water that appears to stretch to infinity. A rule-of-thumb in this area north of Tarpon Springs, is that the water depth drops one foot per mile, with the result that you can be 15 miles offshore, out of sight of land, and still be in only 15 feet of water.
With literally hundreds of square miles of lush, shallow water grass flats to choose from, an angler can drift to his heart's content and find a potpourri of piscatorial prizes to battle.
During the warmer months of summer and fall, its far more comfortable for many fish species--especially trout--to concentrate in cooler 10- to 15-foot depths. During the colder months of winter and spring, the trout move closer to shore and can be found in grassy areas, around rock piles, sand and oyster bars in company with redfish. Snook haunt the river proper year-round with nocturnal hours being best.
Largemouth bass, many of wall hanger heft, can be located in both the brackish and freshwater portions of the Pithlachascotee, along with an abundance of panfish.
There are three public launching ramps within the city limits of New Port Richey and two full-service marinas where gas, oil, tackle, and snacks may be purchased.
Although situated within an area surrounded by more than two million people, the Pithlachascotee River remains largely undiscovered by a majority of Florida's Gulf Coast fishermen, boaters, and canoeists, a circumstance that prompts me to list the spot as a personal favorite.
After all, how many places can you name that sits in the heart of a mega-metropolis where you can quickly escape the helter-skelter of civilization and enjoy the serenity of a bygone era?
And, where can five anglers catch and release 689 fish in nine hours?
Even though I may have trouble spelling or pronouncing its name, the Pithlachascotee--to me--is an oasis of sanity in a jungle of confusion.
Copyright (c) 1997 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
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