By Judy Weeks

NAPLES — Naples community members gathered with their children on the boat dock of a local marina on Sept. 3 to embark on a day of fun on the water in celebration of the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the new school year and Labor Day.

 Six boats with their captains were chartered for the day’s activities. Weighing anchor at 8 a.m., the small flotilla cruised down Naples Bay to the entrance of Gordon Pass, the back bays of the Conservancy and the inland water passage to Marco Island.

While some members of the group chose to spend the day fishing, others landed on Keewaydin Island to swim, sunbath and find shells or divided their time between their options. A rare opportunity prevailed when a bald eagle descended from the sky into the water in search of a fish right before their eyes.

It was an excellent day for fishing and the anglers shared success in every age group. Preschooler O.B. Osceola III caught several fish and couldn’t wait to drop his line in the water. Maggie Porter garnered the catch of the day with a beautiful snook, and Corinne Zepeda wowed the younger generation with her blowfish. Mackerel and redfish dominated the catch.

A large picnic lunch and refreshments fueled the energy for the day’s activities. By late afternoon storm clouds began to gather overhead and the seafarers retraced their route up the channel, through the mangroves, to their landing where they shared their bounty of the day and traded fish tales.