The flats of Pine Island Sound are not deep for the most part. A new boater, fisherman to the area must be very careful of going fast in the sound. There are many sand bars, rocks, and oyster bars hidden for a new boater and you could get hurt or tear up your new boat. Go slow, learn the area, and pay attention as you fish, a depth finder is a must. Many of the fish you catch out on the flats will be in three foot or less water. It’s just like catching bass up north, many times the fish are in the shallowest of water. Watch out when the tide goes out because if you are in the back country it can happen fast and you could be marooned for quite a while until the next high tide. water clarity changes too when the tides are on the move on the flats, and sometimes clear water becomes turbid and vice versa.
When the tide is coming in from the Gulf the water rises and fish bite the best for the most part. When the tide is going out back to the Gulf the water goes shallower and fish bite then too. When the tide is slack or not moving at all, fish many times do not bite well at all, but you never know. Fish don’t read the rules so they can always do the unexpected at any time.
You should have a GPS, depth finder when you learn to fish the flats of SW Florida. After you get out there and spend a day fishing you may decide to return to the dock only to find you are lost without GPS. Many of the Islands out there all look the same and it can be pretty tough to find your way back.
Thanks!