Over the decades, Florida has rightly earned its title of “Fishing Capital of the World” amongst visitors and residents. From coast to coast, South Florida offers anglers a wealth of options and expert ad-vice for fishing enthusiasts of all skill levels.
LEE COUNTY
Estero River
The Estero River is a six-and-a-half-mile waterway that is both tidal and spring-fed, creating freshwater conditions at its headwaters and flowing into Estero Bay. Fishermen can rent a kayak to fish the river starting at $17.50 for the first two hours from Estero River Outfitters.
While navigating the river, experts sug-gest casting towards the mangroves on the banks where fish seek shelter. Live shrimp for the saltwater side of the river, or live shiners for the freshwater side, make the best bait. Anglers can find a wide variety of fish, from peacock and largemouth bass, snook, redfish, snapper and even barracu-da, that have been caught on the river.
Lakes Park
Lakes Park is a 279-acre park featuring a sprawling man-made lake. The park offers fantastic fishing opportunities for those looking to scratch the freshwater itch in Lee County. Because the lake was carved from a quarry operation, there are spots that are exceptionally deep, which provide fish with pockets of cool water during the hot Florida summers. Anglers can expect to catch largemouth bass, snook, and even
the occasional tarpon. The park has mul-tiple ramps throughout the premises to launch small paddle craft. Parking is $1 per hour with a max of $5 for the whole day.
Matlatcha
While most anglers approach Matlatcha by watercraft, it’s not impossible to fish from solid ground. Matlatcha Outfitters offers kayak rentals and bait-and-tackle services. For those looking to fish Matlat-cha shoreside, the Matlatcha draw bridge is a good place to start.
COLLIER COUNTY
Golden Gate Community Park
Golden Gate Community Park is an access point to Collier County’s freshwa-ter canal system. The park features a boat ramp for launching both paddle craft and boats. In the canals, anglers can look forward to encountering peacock and largemouth bass. Locals suggest using live bait, such as shiners. Parking at Golden Gate Community Park is free.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is an inlet in North Collier County where strong currents bring food for predatory fish in and out of the Gulf. There is ample beach room for anglers to target the species of their choice. Delnor-Wiggins hosts a wide variety of fish, including snook, redfish, jack crevalle and sharks. Parking is $6 per vehicle.
Picayune Strand State Forest
Right on the edge of the Everglades, Picayune Strand State Forest offers anglers a glimpse into the wild side of Collier County. The park offers a boat ramp to launch watercraft to explore and fish the canals. For those without watercraft, fishing is available along roadside canals. Anglers can expect to find largemouth bass, snook and bluegill. Parking costs $2 per person.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Cocoplum Waterway
The Cocoplum waterway is a seven-mile-long canal in Port Charlotte. Local experts recommend that anglers find spillways and culverts where fish stack up and wait to ambush prey.
Ponce De Leon Park
Ponce De Leon Park in Punta Gorda features a small fishing pier where a canal system meets Charlotte Harbor. The Pier overlooks where the Peace River, Charlotte Harbor and the canal meet, which supports a wide variety of fish species, including black drum. Anglers should revive the black drum before release, a process in which an angler holds the fish after it is placed back in the water to give it time to regain the stamina it lost in the fight. Parking and pier access are free.
Englewood Beach
For fishermen wanting to enjoy a day in the sand with the family and get some fishing in, too, need look no further than Englewood Beach. The Gulf water temperatures are cooler and more consistent than the intercoastal waterways, attracting many species of fish. Anglers can find snook, snapper and seatrout at Englewood Beach. Parking is 75 cents per hour.
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