Contributing Editor - Pam S

Florida has only one season - warm!

Not true when it comes to fishing, especially in the shallow waters of Estero Bay. Depending on water temperatures, available bait fish and tidal flows, the variety of fish species available in our miles of gentle back bays is astounding.

Let us know if you are interested and we can recommend some of our friendly local guides to show you around.

Free/inexpensive fun things to do in the area - Head to the beach for a swim. some sun or some shoreline fishing. Public parking is limited but your best chances are to come early (before 9 am in season) and park in the largest lots. Tip - try lot number 10 on the north end of Hickory Island (26082 Hickory Blvd, Bonita Springs). If all else fails, head to Lovers Key State Park only a few miles further north.

Contributing Editor - Bob S

You’re probably going to need a guide for this one. You can catch lots of fish on the near shore wrecks and reefs but if you want the big ones, you need to go deep and deep is pretty far out.

Let us know if you are interested and we can recommend some of our friendly local guides to show you around.

Free/inexpensive things to do in the area - If boating is not in your plans, there’s plenty of opportunity to wet a line along the beach or in the passes around Estero Bay and the islands bordering Pine Island Sound. Different passes present different opportunities to catch fish and some areas are more accessible than others. One very accessible location is New Pass just south of Lover’s Key State Park. You can park your car for free on either end of the overpass and fish comfortably from the sea walls under the bridge. Please do use care around the water as currents can be quite strong on incoming and outgoing tides. Using shrimp for bait is usually a winner!

Contributing Editor - Gail M

You’re going to need a boat for this type of fishing. If you want tuna - go to the humps. If you want Mahi - find the weed lines and the birds. Both species are easily reachable from Marathon. Different species show up at different times of the year so watch the seasons and the weather. We had great luck fishing for both tuna and Mahi in August.

If it would be helpful to have a guide and you appreciate someone who works their butt off to show you how to do things, let us introduce you to some of our local friends.

Free/inexpensive fun things to do in the area - Drive another 14 miles further towards Key West from Marathon to Bahia Honda State Park. It’s a very unique place with emerald blue waters. At high tide, the beach is very shallow but the water is very swimmable. At low tide, the area transforms into a massive sand bar with fun pools of water to splash around in.

Contributing editor - Bob S

Estero Bay and similar coastal bays offer vast opportunities to experience wildlife from the water. Birds - including egrets, pelicans, blue heron, ibis, and even eagles are in abundance in this area. They are attracted to the area due to the abundance of food and plentiful nesting opportunities.

If you are new to kayaking or stand up paddling (SUP) and are unfamiliar with the area, there are a number of excellent guides active in the area. We would recommend using the guides working the Hickory channel on the north end of Hickory Island in Bonita Springs. There’s a lot to see here and the water is a bit more manageable than some of the larger passes with strong tides and heavier boat traffic.

Free/inexpensive things to do in the area - If you are fortunate enough to have access to a kayak and want to try things on your own, head to the north end of the bridge over Hickory channel to find free parking and easy launch access. Please do be careful to watch the tides as they can be difficult to paddle against. If you are looking for an easier paddle, go NE from the launch area and you will find a nice calm mangrove lined route to the back bay.

Contributing Editor - Captain Larry Militello of MyGem Charters (find him on FaceBook)

Every summer as the waters of Lake Erie begin to warm up, walleye begin to make their way towards the eastern basin of Lake Erie. They are fun to catch and release but they also make for a very nice sandwich or dinner. They are not difficult to fish for but usually require boat access and a helpful guide.

Free/inexpensive fun things to do in the area - visit 18 mile creek on a warm summer day for a refreshing walk or dip in the cool fresh water. If you have a kayak, bring it along for a very relaxing paddle. Take Old Lake Shore Road (old route 5) south from Buffalo and park for free in a small lot on the south east side of the bridge. Best to wear old sneakers!