Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach proudly presents this post from professional fishing guide, award-winning outdoor writer, and International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record-holder, Captain Debbie Hanson.
As I stood along the shoreline and sipped on my organic Chiapas dark roast, the sun started to peek over the eastern edge of Lake Babcock. The pine flatwoods off in the distance seemed to cradle the bright golden rays as they glimmered down from the sky.
The Town of Babcock Ranch
Nearly 250 acres of bass fishing wonderland stretched out in front of me, just begging for an assortment of well-placed casts. I'm not sure whether it was the anticipation of the hours ahead, or the dark roast Chiapas, but I can tell you that my heart skipped a beat. 
Without question, this was a switch from my usual freshwater fishing venues.
Lake Babcock Bass Fishing by Kayak
We're a conservation-minded community, so we were a natural location for America's first solar-powered town, Babcock Ranch. Alongise this sustainable town, Lake Babcock is just one part of what is considered to be the largest conservation land acquisition in Florida history—nearly 17,000 acres.
It felt pretty remarkable to be standing on this particular lake shoreline for these reasons alone, but then there was the opportunity to catch and release a few sizable largemouth bass.
While there was a fishing dock available for public use, the adventurous spirit in me was all about covering as much of the lake as possible in a kayak. Once you're there, you may find yourself wanting to investigate every point and drop-off as well, so bring your own vessel or find a rental.
So there I was, with a bag of 5-inch Gary Yamamoto soft plastic Senkos, my medium action fishing rod, and a kayak. Excitement bubbled up inside me as I launched the kayak from the shoreline and began my quest.
Largemouth Bass Success
After paddling along the western edge of the lake for about 20 minutes, I began to pay close attention to areas where a shift in the water's hue indicated a variation in depth. I located a secondary point, then opened up my bail and launched my watermelon-colored soft plastic offering out into the gentle waves while hoping that a chunky bass would be eagerly waiting for breakfast.
As my bait fluttered down toward the bottom, I felt a hard hit. Mere seconds after setting the hook, a fine specimen of a Micropterus salmoides shot up out of the water and gave me a grand headshake. I scrambled for my silicone landing net, carefully scooped up my catch, and estimated her to be about 6-pounds before releasing her back into the depths from whence she came.
I paddled on for a few more hours, catching a few more respectable fish around 14-inches while enjoying the solitude of Charlotte County on a September day. However, the memory of my first Lake Babcock largemouth bass remained the most vivid.
Before You Go
Keep in mind when you head out on your own, a freshwater fishing license is required and available on MyFWC.com.
It was a wonderful day on the water and I can wholeheartedly recommend a Lake Babcock fishing trip. Find a great spot to fuel up before you head out, or explore our Coffee Culture to jump start your day. Here's to tight lines!
