Lovers Key Fishing Clinic

Join Park Naturalists to learn a variety of tackle and fresh bait rigs, find out the best places to drop a line, and learn about the rules and regulations that pertain to game fishing in Southwest Florida. Due to limited space, reservations are required. Call 239-463-4588.

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL
April 20, 2018 • 10 am

Kayaking Southwest Florida

by Eric Lindner

Southwest Florida offers a variety of outdoor activities. Kayaking the area provides a first- hand vantage point of the unmatched beauty of our aquatic ecosystems. There are such diverse paddles available ranging from pristine beaches, mangrove swamps, freshwater rivers and creeks, the adventures seem endless. Not only does kayaking provide a direct connection with nature it is an effective, low impact workout that is excellent for your core and upper body.

I would like to highlight a beautiful short day paddle that only takes half a day. Lovers Key to Mound Key Archaeological State Park in Estero Bay is just under a 5 mile round trip paddle. The launch for this trip begins at Carl E. Johnson boat ramp directly across from Lovers Key State Park. The bay is very scenic with numerous opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife like manatee and dolphin. By paddling the suggested route two unique views of the islands of the bay can be experienced.

Paddling route from Lovers Key to Mound Key

The halfway point of the trip is Mound Key. Believed to be the capital of the Calusa Indians, the island’s shell mounds reach heights of 30 feet. The self-guided hiking trail starts at the northwest and southeast sides of the island under canopies of cabbage palms and gumbo limbo trees. The top of the mound provides a scenic view of the bay. This provides an excellent opportunity to stretch your legs before the return trip.

Estero Bay Scenic View

Exit from Mound Key looking south

About the author: Eric Lindner is an avid kayaker with 
extensive knowledge of Florida's ecosystems.
Graduated University of Florida: Environmental Sciences
Owner/operator: www.ecopaddlesportz.com

Lovers Key State Park: Chosen as Top 5 Romantic Beach in Florida by USA Today

Lovers Key State Park
photo credit: floridastateparks.org

For years, Lovers Key was accessible only by boat and it was said that only lovers traveled to the island to enjoy its remote and solitary beach. Today, it is one of four barrier islands that make up this state park. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The two mile long beach is accessible by boardwalk or tram and is popular for shelling, swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Black Island has over five miles of multi-use trails for hiking and bicycling. Anglers and boaters can launch their vessels from the park’s boat ramp. The park’s concession offers kayak tours, as well as bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals. Located on County Road 865 between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach in Lee County.

Click here to see the rest of USA Today’s top 5 most romantic beach picks.

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Boulevard
Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931
(239) 463-4588
Park GPS coordinates: N 26° 23.578 W 81° 52.063

Be the Turtle (Not the Hare)

Come run and try to win one of these beautiful medals!
photo credit: friendsofloverskey.org

Don’t miss the 8th Annual Turtle Trot Race coming up on May 11th, 2013. Everyone is invited…..runners, joggers, and walkers alike can join the fun and experience the beauty of Lovers Key State Park.

Participants will trek over a path along Black Island Trail, run up a 38-foot hill and cross two bridges as they race toward the finish line at the beach. Breakfast is supplied by the race’s Signature Sponsor, Whole Foods, and awards are presented at the Lovers Key pavilion at the end of the race.

Runners in the Annual Lovers Key Turtle Trot
photo credit: naplesnews.com

So come, have fun and support a great cause. Register on-line by going to the following link or stop by the park and pick up a paper registration form. Before May 3rd registration fee is $25 for adults and $15 for youth (18 and under). Week before the race $30 for all levels and day of race is $35 for all levels….register early and save!!!

For more information write events@friendsofloverskey.org or call 239-463-4588. Need a place to stay that weekend? Check out Cocoplum Beach House.

Whale Sharks Spotted Near Fort Myers Beach … Again!

Twice in the past few months, divers visiting the Mohawk Veterans Memorial Artificial Reef near Fort Myers Beach have gotten a big treat. There have been two separate sightings of the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, at the USS Mohawk, mostly recently this weekend. Click here to see video taken on Saturday of this magnificent creature. Although rare in this part of the world, marine biologists believe the sightings are of two different fish.

No License? No Problem! Sept. 1 is License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day in Florida

Greater Amberjack Catch (Photo credit: myfwc.com)

Sept. 1 is a license-free saltwater fishing day in Florida. This year, it not only falls on a holiday weekend, but is during the popular spiny lobster and bay scallop seasons. Florida is known as the “Fishing Capital of the World” due to its abundant resources, combined with responsible freshwater and saltwater fish management. Florida residents and visitors can experience the joy of saltwater fishing and many will discover a healthy sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.  Don’t miss this opportunity to to share the fun, excitement and togetherness of a fishing trip with the entire family or introduce friends to the sport, even if they don’t have a fishing license.

Popular Shore Fishing Locations near Fort Myers Beach:

• Sanibel Causeway – Head North on San Carlos Blvd off the North end of Fort Myers Beach, and turn left onto Summerlin Road, following the signs to Sanibel. Once passed the toll booth ($6 toll, but covers in and out) there are a number of places to stop on the causeway islands. One of the islands also includes restroom facilities.
• Punta Rassa area – Just before the Sanibel Causeway toll booth there is an exit on the right to Punta Rassa. If you take this exit there is a boat launch area where you can park, and go fishing under the causeway bridge. Also on the south side of the road when you are heading back from Punta Rassa, just after the toll booth there is a wide shoulder where people park to go fishing on the south side of the road. This is also a popular spot for camping and kite boarding.
• Pier on Fort Myers Beach – The pier in downtown Fort Myers Beach is usually a very popular spot for fishing. Head to Times Square and walk out the pier to the end. There is a small convenience store located on the pier.
• South End Bridge – If you follow Estero Blvd all the way south as you are about to leave the island, you will most likely see people standing on the bridge fishing over the side. This spot almost always has people fishing from it.
• Lovers Key State Park – Just drive a bit further south from the South End Bridge and you’ll be on Lovers Key. There are plenty of spots to park for free, including near the boat ramp and you can wade in to the bay side very easily. There is a sign about alligators at Lovers Key, so keep that in mind.
• Beach Spots – Almost any spot on the beach will do. You’ll no doubt want to stay away from a crowd of people in the water as they can spook the fish and get in your way, so near the downtown area is usually not the best spot. It seems that between the beach and the sandbars that exist in a number of spots along the beach are popular, due to increased fish activity. Mid-island, near Cocoplum Beach House, is usually a very quiet stretch of beach.

All other bag limit, season and size restrictions apply on these dates. To make your fishing day successful, check out MyFWC.com/Fishing for fishing tips, locations and rules.Visit MyFWC.com and click on “Calendar” to learn more about boating-safety events during National Fishing and Boating Week and year-round.

Get Your Paddles Ready!

Get ready to welcome Fall with the most exciting paddling festival in the country. This year’s Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival dates are November 1st to the 4th.

An annual event since 2006, the popular paddling festival has offered races, seminars, guided trips, a fishing tournament, demonstrations, a photo contest, and social events to kayakers. This year’s festival will include stand-up paddleboard (SUP) activities, on-water instruction, and a canoe and kayak film festival. Also, the festival will offer a race to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Lee County, Florida.

Photo credit: swflsupclub.org/

The festival serves to highlight the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, a 190-mile marked-and-meandering saltwater trail that spans the coast and inland rivers along the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. It includes saltwater mangrove trails and inland rivers that access the saltwater trails.

The event was selected as a Top 20 Event for 2012 by the Southeast Tourism Society. The festival is coordinated by Lee County Parks & Recreation, which reported attendance for the 2011 festival from 20 states, Canada and Great Britain.

Festival details are available at www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com and also on Facebook and Twitter. For trail information, visit www.CalusaBlueway.com.

Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder Mobile App – listing of nearby parks in the palm of your hand

We just discovered a fantastic (and free) iPhone App — Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder from the American Park Network, which provides users with a searchable database of every single state and federal public land in America. You can search the database based on location and the activity of your choice; whether you want to go boating, fishing, hiking, cycling, or even bird watching in a National Park in Florida (or any other state), the Oh, Ranger! app is a great resource for information.

Once users have chosen where they want to go, Oh, Ranger! helps as a virtual guide. It gives users directions, necessary phone numbers, important weather information, food and lodging facts, as well as links to related sites. It’s significant to note that many of these features are actually embedded into the application itself, meaning users don’t need internet access (which is great, since access is usually poor in the middle of the wilderness) to get the information they want.

The parks database itself is extensive, and includes thousands of national parks, state parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreation areas and a variety of other public lands. When I searched for “Boating” in the Fort Myers Beach area, the results showed 6 great Federal and State parks, plus 10 local parks.

In addition, Ford Motor Company will donate $150,000 to four non-profit organizations. Each non-profit will receive dollar from Ford for every vote/download.  If you have a smartphone, simply download the Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ Mobile App and vote for your favorite of the four: Boy Scouts of America, National Wildlife Federation, Outdoor Nation or the Student Conservation Association.This app is available for iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, and Android, and for those of you without a smartphone, all of the information available through the app can be accessed at OhRanger.com.

Visit the iTunes app store or go to the Oh, Ranger website to learn more and download the app.

Ten Great Reasons to Visit Fort Myers Beach, Florida

If you long for a vacation that consists of beaches, water sports, nature, history and culture, then Fort Myers Beach is just what you’re looking for.

Warm Climate

Fort Myers Beach enjoys a warm climate almost year round. The weather is mild with plenty of sunshine and cool breezes. Although January is typically the coolest month, the average high is 75°F, making Fort Myers Beach the perfect destination year round.

Enjoy the Beach

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that no trip to Fort Myers Beach would be complete without spending some time on the beach. Have a barbecue, go for a swim or just grab a good book and relax in the sand. The choice is yours!

Go Golfing

Florida is known for its wide variety of golf courses, and Lee County is no exception. With no cold season, the courses are open year round, but are less crowded in the warmer summer months of May to October. Nearby Fort Myers boasts many golf courses, but if you prefer, you don’t even have to leave Fort Myers Beach: The 18-hole “Bay Beach” course at the Fort Myers Beach Golf Club facility features 3,091 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 60.

Ride a Bike

With warm weather year round and a plethora of safe bike paths, local residents and visitors alike love to ride bikes in Fort Myers Beach. Rent a bike or bring your own and explore the many gems in and around Fort Myers Beach.

Go Birdwatching

Fort Myers Beach is a very popular tourist destination, but also provides excellent habitat for many species of birds throughout the area. Nearby Lovers Key State Park attracts American white pelicans, black-bellied plovers, rose-breasted grosbeaks and other colorful birds.

Go Fishing

Fort Myers Beach is well known for its plentiful fishing opportunities. This is the destination for a relaxing day on the water, whether you are a beginner who is new to fishing, or an experienced angler catching grouper, snapper, mackerel and cobia for dinner.

Try a New Watersport

If you’ve never tried Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) or kayaking, Fort Myers Beach is a great place to experience these for the first time. The calm Gulf waters and abundance of wildlife make this a must-do on your next trip to Fort Myers Beach.

Go Shopping

Come prepared for some great shopping. There are plenty of unique gift and souvenir shops in Fort Myers Beach, but if you’re looking to do some serious shopping, don’t miss nearby Tanger Outlet Mall and Miromar Factory Outlet Stores.

Spend a Night on the Town

After you’ve enjoyed the gorgeous sunset in Fort Myers Beach, the fun is far from over. Dozens of mouth-watering restaurants and thrilling bars and clubs make for an unforgettable evening in this city.

Great Accommodations

As a tourism destination, there are countless accommodation options in Fort Myers Beach. There are plenty of choices for every possible price range and budget. Whether you’re getting away for a romantic weekend or a family vacation, Fort Myers Beach has just what you’re looking for.

With these ten great reasons to visit Fort Myers Beach, Florida, what are you waiting for? Make Fort Myers Beach your next vacation destination. You’ll be glad you did!

Help endangered sea turtles nesting on our beaches

It’s sea turtle nesting season again! Each summer, threatened and endangered marine turtles nest along our beaches. Two months later, tiny turtle hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests and quickly race to the sea, using the seaward horizon as their guiding light. Sadly, artificial light visible from the beach lures the sea turtles inland, away from the water. Thousands of sea turtles die needlessly every year because of lights along beaches that were not turned off or properly shielded.

What can you do to help? While vacationing in Fort Myers Beach during May 1 through October 31, from 9:00 p.m. To 7:00 a.m.:

– shield all sources of light visible from the beach
– use 25 watt yellow bug lights or amber colored LED lights
– close blinds or curtains after dark, preventing light from spilling out toward the beach
– remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach each night

Thank you for your help in ensuring the continued survival of our threatened and endangered sea turtles.