The Fish Cabins of Captiva Rocks - Pine Island Sound

The Fish Cabins at Captiva Rocks, a shoal between Pine Island and Cayo Costa.

Anyone who knows Pine Island Sound is familiar with the fish camps that are located at the west end of Little Wood Key. They sit at the heart of the Sound and are an iconic site in the area.

History

Now used by recreational fisherman who are grandfathered in, these cabins were once used by commercial fishermen who fished Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbour.

In 1886 the railroad was established in Punta Gorda and it revolutionized the Charlotte Harbor fishing industry and made it one of the most important in the state. It made fresh fish available to be shipped directly to northern markets. The fishermen work hard long hours and some lived permanently in the cabins that the fish companies built. Several cabins were built from Charlotte Harbor south to San Carlos Bay. The fishermen would store their catches in the fish companies’ ice houses, where boats picked up the fish and transported them to Punta Gorda.

When the Punta Gorda Fish Co. closed in 1957, it started selling its cabins to recreational anglers who leased the submerged land.

In the mid 1980's, the Florida Department of Natural Resources began burning these cabins down claiming that they were a navigational hazard.

Owners fought the state by stating the obvious - the flats at Captiva Rocks are too shallow to navigate anyway - it's great when the obvious prevails.

The state also claimed that the occupants of the cabins were creating sanitation problems due to the lack of plumbing and disposal. This was also disproved by the owners' use of chemical sanitation. Needless to say, the owners of the cabins are environmentally conscientious and respect the area that they call home.

All points proven, the cabins are now listed on and protected by the National Register of Historic Places.

A Weekend at the Cabin

Alan and I had the opportunity to stay in one of these cabins one weekend. We have friends who own the Norton Fish Cabin, now known as Manny's Fish Camp. They generously asked us to join them for a weekend at the cabin and we anxiously accepted!

Manny's Fish Camp

Staying in the cabin was a unique experience and would that I could enjoy experiencing over and over! We'd spend the days fishing and the evenings talking about the days adventures and enjoying meals of fresh fish.

Nights - nights are the best. I woke up several times during the nights - awakened by the sounds of fish crashing bait underneath the house. I didn't want to go back to sleep - I just wanted to lay there and listen to the sounds of the night.

Hurricane Charley takes it's toll on the Cabins

August 13, 2004

Hurricane Charley took it's toll on the cabins at Captiva Rocks in August 2004. Charley was the strongest hurricane to hit SW Florida since Hurricane Donna in 1960. At its peak intensity of 150 mph, Hurricane Charley struck the northern tip of Captiva Island and the southern tip of North Captiva Island, causing severe damage in both areas.

The fish cabins took a severe hit. Some even speculate that a tornado developed during the storm and hit the cabins. Many barely were left with only the pilings standing.

With the historic site status and after a lot of time spent on paperwork and legalities, the fish cabins were able to be repaired and rebuilt.

It's hard to believe that Hurricane Charley was 5 years ago. There's still a lot of damage that can be seen in the mangrove islands. But with the rebuilding of the shacks, Pine Island Sound looks normal once again.

What remains of the Ice House at Captiva Rocks.