With a vibrant tropical landscape filled with beaches, waterways, and verdant recreation centers, Cape Coral is every angler and tourist’s dream destination. Often referred to as a “waterfront wonderland”, Cape Coral boasts a jaw-dropping 400 miles of navigable freshwater and saltwater canals. That’s even more than the so-called “City of Canals” - Venice, Italy! It was first developed as a planned community in 1957 and had its first residents in 1958. After development continued through the early 1960s and the city was incorporated in 1970, Cape Coral’s population grew so quickly that it surpassed that of its neighbor, Fort Myers, in the 1980s.
Beyond its pristine and well-preserved waters, Cape Coral is also home to sprawling green spaces. One example is the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, which houses a sprawling mangrove forest. Other recreation areas include Four Freedoms Park and Sunsplash Family Waterpark.
Everywhere you look at Cape Coral, there is a beautiful work of nature to appreciate and explore. Whether you’re in the mood for a productive fishing trip, a fun day at the pool or beach, or a calming hike, Cape Coral has everything you need and more.
Fishing at Cape Coral will show you why Florida has been dubbed the “Fishing Capital of the World”. There’s great fishing all year round, even in the winter, thanks to Florida’s subtropical climate. The cooler waters from December to February make a great environment for trophy-sized redfish, spotted sea trout, and largemouth bass.
At the canals, some of the most popular species you’ll find are largemouth bass, snook, sheepshead, and bluegill. You can also find mullet, which aren’t strictly considered game fish, but can serve as prey for large game fish, so it’s good to have them around. One way to test the waters for mullet is to scatter pieces of bread into the water and see if they take the bait. Another well-known freshwater location is Lake Kennedy, which is home to many snook, sheepshead, black drum, and spotted sea trout.
At sea, your choices of game fish will only expand. Inshore fishing along Caloosahatchee River, Estero Bay, and Matlacha Pass can yield crevalle jack, sheepshead, tripletail, and Spanish mackerel. Deep sea fishing enthusiasts will have a chance to catch king mackerel, cobia, mahi-mahi, kingfish, and goliath grouper. Make sure to pack your heavy-duty rods, particularly for goliath grouper, which are notorious for breaking fishing gear. Effective techniques for catching these fish are trolling and jigging. Anglers have access to the Gulf of Mexico via the various boat launches at the canals, including the two at the Yacht Club Boat Ramp.
While you’re at Cape Coral, make sure to pay a visit to the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. It houses a 365-acre mangrove forest that you can walk through on its boardwalk trail. Four Mile Cove also has several waterways running through its grounds for those who wish to take a tour via kayak. The dense population of trees make the site ideal for bird watching.
At Cape Coral, the water-filled fun doesn’t end at the beach. Sunsplash Family Waterpark is the largest waterpark in southwest Florida and boasts a variety of pools, slides, rides, and tunnels for you and your family to enjoy. The most popular attractions include the relaxing Main Stream River Tube Ride and the thrilling 457-foot Electric Slide & Power Surge.