Things to Do in Iona

Captain Nate Maynard may just as well have been born on a boat. Growing up in South Florida, he spent much of his youth studying the waters off Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, and Matlacha and San Carlos Passes, learning the patterns of the prized catches lurking beneath. As he got older, Maynard tested his expertise by entering the tournament scene, refining his approach for fishing the area’s expansive shallow flats, bays, and outer-island passes.

With Lip’em N Grip’em Fishing Charters, Maynard imparts his knowledge to all levels of anglers during guided outings. Supplying all equipment and preferring live bait such as pinfish and shrimp—but willing to use artificial lures based on the availability of live bait and clients’ preferences—the captain leads parties on fishing excursions for hauls of South Florida’s many species, including redfish, snook, and trout. For fisherman seeking bigger trophies, Maynard motors his 22-foot, 225 horse-power Sterling boat toward waters home to tarpon, shark, and flounder shaped like Academy Awards.

Captain Maynard operates by a “no fish, no pay” policy to demonstrate his integrity toward clients. In addition to guiding, he also takes guests on sunset cruises and wildlife excursions such as dolphin and manatee tours.:m]]

A windswept canopy of palm trees and tiki huts cast shadows over Golf Safari’s 18-hole mini-golf course, where putters explore a safari-themed pastiche of life-sized lion statues, jungly gardens, and misting waterfalls. Built upon a foundation of rocky outcrops, the emerald passageways swerve among the hooves of zebra sculptures, pretend giraffes, and real-life goat-human hybrids. Sprightly flowers and ponds dotted with lily pads greet putt-putt posses along the way, providing a tranquil contrast to pressure-packed putts. With each hole in one, players gain a lifetime of bragging rights against their competitors, as well as the eternal friendship of George T. Gorilla, the course’s primate mascot.

From catching a 5-pound largemouth bass at age 5 to spending his summers competing in offshore fishing tournaments in the Bahamas, Captain Sean Adler's proudest moments have played out aboard a boat. Now the licensed captain strives to share the thrill of a taut line with passengers of all fishing-experience levels. To that end, he and his crew monitor the tides, barometric pressure, and moon phases to inform departure times for their fishing trips. They stock their boats with ample bait, ice, and fishing equipment for all guests. Once passengers reel in their catches, the crew snaps photos which anglers can proudly display at the office or threaten ungrateful pet goldfish at home.

True to its name, All Water Excursions sets sail for adventures above or below sea level with boat rentals, guided tours, and underwater activities. Narrated cruises tour the backwaters of Florida while guides share stories about local history and wildlife and schools of dolphins choreograph underwater ballets beneath the boat. Windsurfing raises patrons to a bird's-eye view, and scuba-diving sessions explore coral reefs and shipwrecks located near the ocean floor. All Water Excursions will also rent pontoons, deck boats, and center consoles to patrons who want to sail for themselves and conduct ocean and backwater fishing trips to catch sea trout, catfish, or mangrove snapper.

With more than 31,000 nautical miles of sailing under his boat shoes, Captain David Richardson is more than capable of navigating his sailboat, Sundance, on the leisure cruises for which he has become known. The half-day charters he leads out of Bonita Bill's Waterfront Café take in the many moods of the Gulf of Mexico, from its tranquil disposition in the sun to the turbulent waters it experiences when it realizes it'll never be a full-grown ocean. The Sundance itself boasts comfy accommodations, from cushy seats to an on-board bathroom, and many passengers bring their own food on board to eat while ogling jumping dolphins.

Florida Paddlesports' fleet of watercraft includes everything from tandem and fishing kayaks to yoga and touring paddleboards. When not selling or renting these aquatic vessels, the staff members use them to lead group tours of Florida waterways around destinations such as Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Pine Island, and Bokeelia. Along these trips, they lead paddlers past mangrove tunnels or glistening white beaches and point out dolphins giving manatees skincare tips. The crew also bestows paddling prowess upon groups during kayaking and standup paddleboarding lessons, and takes groups out on both vessels for fishing excursions.

Since the shop has at least one rental available of every kayak and paddleboard it sells, staff members recommend customers try out a Native Mariner kayak or Tahoe standup paddleboard before committing to one. Additionally, they deliver rentals to customers' launching spots and their retail shop brims with paddling wear and accessories from the likes of RailRiders clothing, SealLine, and Malone.