As a Home Watch provider, we want each of your return trips to Sarasota to feel as refreshing as the first. Our "Piece of Paradise" newsletters provide a brief glimpse into Florida homeownership, followed by a featured activity for your next visit.

We're popping in to say hello! It's been awhile since our last newsletter, but our Father's Day adventure was too fun to not share. (Happy belated Father's Day!)

We tried something new for our family - bowfishing with Twisted Limbs out of Cockroach Bay in Ruskin. We chose the saltwater option and were relieved that the boat stayed in shallow coastal waters, navigating through the mangroves. Translation: no Dramamine or Sea-Bands needed for motion sickness. In fact, even if you don't want to partake in the fishing, the late night ride through quiet waters was majestic (charters are 8pm to midnight).

For most of the trip, our boat was the only vessel on the water..

The vendor's webpage suggests this activity is appropriate for ages 5 years to 85 years. Up to 6 passengers can participate in a trip. Each is provided with a bow (arrow attached on a sturdy fishing line) and instructions. Lights on the bottom of the boat make it incredibly easy to spot fish as they swim nearby. The mechanics of the bow were very simple. Hitting the fish? A different story!

The boat platform was flat and free of obstacles - much appreciated when multiple people are maneuvering for the best shot!

One aspect that made this sport especially fun was the opportunity for multiple people to shoot at the same fish. Well, maybe that was because we kept missing... but it sure felt like a team effort!

Team Lansdale reporting for duty.

This was especially true for the slow-to-move Sheepshead fish. We were really hoping to pull one up; not only are they supposed to be tasty, but we wanted to get a close look at their goofy mouth of teeth. If you've never seen photos of a Sheepshead fish, it's worth a quick Google search.

Dinner time!

Although we didn't end up with any Sheepshead, we did snag a Black Drum, Spade, Flounder, and several stingrays (not pictured). Then Ben taught the kids how to clean and filet a fish.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Twisted Limbs to anyone who wants to try bowfishing. Captain Travis and his son Ty were focused on safety & regulatory compliance, were very attentive to our family, had patience with our (lack of) skills and most of all, were great fun to talk to!

Additional Considerations

As a family who doesn't own a fishing boat, our recommendations for this activity are limited. Two years ago we sent a newsletter about Flying Fish Fleet - a surefire way to get some fish on the line. And one of our very first newsletters mentioned fishing at the foot of the John Ringling Bridge. The HOA pond is also likely an option, if your community has one!

But it's mid-summer and we've got bigger fish to fry than talking about the sport. This is your friendly reminder that June 1 marked the beginning of Hurricane Season. If there are any storm preparations that Coastal Haven can assist with before there is even a hint of a named storm, please let us know! We will be happy to take care of those sooner than later, allowing us to streamline and focus our pre-storm visits if the need arises.