background image
22 |
MarineMax Lifestyles
It's just after daybreak
and a snow-
white egret, its wings catching the glint of the sun rising, is tak-
ing off from the outstretched arm of a tree submerged beneath
shallow river waters. a fishing line whizzes through the air, and
with a small plop, like a tiny creature entering the water, disturbs
the awesome silence. it's a line cast not by a seasoned fisherman
aboard a walk-around fishing boat, but by a dad and son aboard
a family-friendly pontoon.
the pontoon is ideal for florida's lakes and coastal rivers. a
pontoon gives you the time and leisure to really explore these
bodies of waters and the amazing fish, mammals and birds that
call them home. Discover the alligators, bass or bobcats that make
florida such a natural wonder. you can cruise, fish or ski, and you
can do it with family and friends along for the ride.
cruise along the crystal river, the brackish seam of water that
embodies all of the beauty and wonder of wild florida, from man-
atees to scallops. and cruise along the st. Johns river, with its
shoreline of spanish-moss covered trees, is like gliding into an old
florida that keeps some of its mystery intact.
from river to lake, the pontoon is a versatile vessel for plying
the sunshine state's waters. florida's third-largest lake, lake sem-
inole, covers an expanse of 37,500 acres between north florida
and southern Georgia. Here you can fish for bass and be on the
lookout for the gopher tortoise native to these waters. orange
lake is located inside marjorie Kinnan rawlings Historic Park,
named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. it is the setting for
her famous novels, cross creek and the yearling. crescent lake
is great for fisherman because of the variety of the catch here,
including blue crab, catfish, and bass. the brackish water of lake
George, florida's second-largest, allows for both fresh and salt-
water catches. lake tohopekaliga is a veritable wildlife preserve,
its creatures including the endangered everglades snail kite and
whooping crane, along with the extraordinary florida wildlife of
alligators, turtles, bald eagles and osprey.
florida's largest lake, lake okeechobee, comes in at 451,000
acres but has a shallow depth of about nine feet. it is famous for
its fishing and natural beauty. the equally shallow lake istokpoga,
florida's fifth-largest, offers a uniquely diverse ecosystem.
in fact, all of florida offers that kind of natural diversity. one of
the best ways to experience it is floating along on the broad deck
of a pontoon boat.
you can even spend a whole floridian vacation on your
pontoon. Pontoons offer a comfort and versatility that just
cannot be beat. With a top covering the whole boat, a sofa bed, a
table and storage spaces, the pontoon boat practically becomes a
houseboat.