Ft. Myers area

[Drich]

Wow! Its a great location and nice facility if you can get a straight answer from these people. The signs coming in says open to the public, I saw a lot of trailered boats launched in and out everyday. I called down there twice before my visit. I talked to the assistant Harbor Master. I only asked about a slip for the week and place to park. I was told $205 for the slip and would have to take my trailer 5 miles away to a storage facility, and then changed his mind and said $5 a day for the trailer. When I got there, they charged me $175 for 8 nights and let me keep the trailer there with no extra charge. I thoroughly enjoyed the marina, people, restaurant/bar, and facilities. I will try and go back again soon! It is a great location on the harbor to sail out to Cayo Costa, a couple occasions we made it in 2 hours, you can see the condos from just about anywhere on the harbor for a point of reference. Maybe renting the slip was the key to my success!
The sailing was great! We sailed straight in and out of the harbor with good winds. We had 12-15 most of the trip. We sailed gulf side down Cayo Costa with 15-20 winds and 2-4 seas. Thinking of going back for Thanksgiving, if the schedule works out.

 

[Gene Neill]

I live in Punta Gorda so I called to see what they tell me. They said that they do not allow a one day launch. They charge $400.00/year to use the ramp. Ouch! I'm thinking either Lashley Park in Punta Gorda or the Marina on Pine Island sounds like your best options.

Yes indeed. Thanks for the info!

We've decided on Pine Island marina, mainly for the secure parking and the freshwater rinse station. Plus, we don't want to face a long, hard beat back up to Punta Gorda if the winds are contrary on the last day of our cruise.

 

[Gene Neill]

.... Thinking of going back for Thanksgiving, if the schedule works out.

We're planning on the 22nd through the 26th. Maybe we'll see you there!

 

[McIntoshUSA]

We're planning on the 22nd through the 26th. Maybe we'll see you there!

We will be out of town for Thanksgiving, but maybe we can run down to Pelican Bay earlier in the week. We have a cruise/race from Punta Gorda to Gasparilla this Saturday. Then head back to Punta Gorda for another race Sunday. Nice Harbor. I attached a file with most of the markers in Charlotte Harbor in case you plan to sail the harbor.

 

[Gene Neill]

I've been going to Pineland Marina since I was probably 10 years old. My family has a house on North Captiva and that's where we catch the water taxi. I've always seen people launching boats at the ramp there and the parking is situated between two lots. Both are gated and there is usually someone there at all times. We leave our vehicles there for weeks at a time and neither us nor any other islanders have had any issues. If you're going to be sailing in the area be mindful of how shallow it is towards Cayo Costa. We used to take our Compaq 19 with a shoal draft from north captiva over to Cayo costa for excursions and anchor on the bay side. The mosquitoes can be treacherous and hurricane Charlie has changed the landscape but the southern point has some great snorkeling if the water is calm. Just watch out because there have been wild pig sightings. (Great bbq opportunity) North Captiva has a great restaurant called barnacle phils if you go into the harbor. It's shallow so be mindful of the channel markings. On your way from Pineland, Cabbage Key is another great stop with a large marina and restaurant at the top of the hill. Also don't swim in the pass between Cayo Costa and North Captiva. It's sharky as all get out. We were pulling 5 and 6 foot Bull sharks right off the beach at sunset. The current in the pass on an incoming tide can be challenging for a small motor but it's doable. If you're out in the Gulf there's a sandbar about a half mile out. You can see waves crashing it at low tide. Also sharky. But you shouldn't have any problems sailing up the beaches. There are lots of Bald eagles nesting on the south end of north cap which is a state park and has a nude beach if you're into that sort of thing. Any other questions let me know. I'd make sure I had updated charts before going.

Hey Moose, you still around?

I was wondering if you had any intel on the fishing down there this time of year! Like what's biting, and what are they biting on?

I'm not much of a fisherman at all, I just love to eat fish.

 

[Bm3moose]

I'm around. I'm not 100% on what's biting right now. We've pulled some nice grouper out of the pass and some monster bull sharks from the beach near the pass. I can't recommend swimming after I saw them. I can ask around and see what's going on down there I have a few locals in the area. I liked fishing the pass but along the mangroves is good and there's some spots here and there that can produce. Shrimps always an easy bait choice or if you can snag some mangrove crabs they work well too. There's lots of sheepshead and redfish and trout, some big snook as well. Great place for a fly rod.
My folks have our place rented out but I've got my wife pretty convinced to live off the boat for spring break at safety harbor and go island hopping. We'd have access to ice and the pool, what more could we need?

 

[Bm3moose]

Oh and sand fleas make good bait too if you're beach fishing. Find some kids to dig them up for you.

 

[Gene Neill]

Thanks, Moose! I'm pretty lazy, and the only kind of fishing I generally do is trolling under sail or bobber-fishing at anchor. Hopefully I can at least score a trout or a redfish. A grouper would be off-the-chain fantastic.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

I'm not a fisherman, but here is a little info on fishing in Charlotte Harbor.
http://www.downtownbaitshop.com/local-fishing-info