Naples, Florida

Less than an hour south of Fort Myers, on the beautiful Paradise Coast of southwest Florida, you'll find the city of Naples. With a population of just over 22,000, Naples is a fantastic tourist destination. Known for its idyllic beaches with beautiful white sand and incredible dining and shopping opportunities, Naples is also a popular destination for anglers. Anglers love Naples diversity and come from 

all over the world to take advantage of its world-class fishery. If you are a serious angler on a trophy hunt, a passionate angler on a family vacation, or if it's your first time on the water, Naples fishing has something to offer everyone. With some of the best fishing and experienced fishing charters, you'll have a great time on the water in Naples!

Fishing in this Area:

A bit north of Florida's iconic Ten Thousand Islands, a gigantic chain of islands and mangrove islets that is teeming with underwater life, Naples offers opportunities to catch lots of fish species in lots of ways. Featuring several fishing options like backcountry fishing, inshore fishing, or offshore fishing, Naples provides year-round fishing action due to its proximity to rivers, beaches, reefs, bays, large mangrove structure, grass flats, Gulf of Mexico passes, Marco Island, and of course the hallowed Ten Thousand Islands. With such a variety of options to choose from, it can be best to hire a Naples fishing guide to take you out on their private boat. That way, you can guarantee you're fishing based on the most recent patterns and expert knowledge, and you won't need to worry about a fishing license either.

Top 10 Fish Species in Naples:

The top 10 fish species are Redfish, Snook, Tarpon, Speckled Trout (Sea Trout), Grouper, Amberjack, Flounder, Sheepshead, Pompano, & the Red Snapper. 

Fishing Information:

One of Naples's most iconic fishing spots, popular with locals and tourists alike, is the Naples Pier. Originally built as a cargo & passenger 

dock back in 1888, the Naples Pier stretches over 1,000 feet into the water, providing access to fish that surfcasting typically wouldn't allow you to catch. Anglers frequently catch snook, speckled trout, and pompano, but redfish, sheepshead, grouper, and even sharks are around, too. The pier offers shade from the sun, and additionally, plant life can grow under the pier, which is another reason fish gravitate there. It's also common to see birds, dolphins, and stingrays while you fish, which is always a relaxed experience.

You can find snook in the flats, rivers, and under bridges all around Naples. It is generally accepted that the biggest snook gravitate towards bridges, so that is probably your best bet for catching a trophy. Live bait, especially shrimp, is often the most effective way to catch snook, but throwing artificials on light tackle or fly fishing can often be effective, too. Gordon Pass is one of the best fishing spots to catch snook in all of Florida, and if you venture further south of Marco Island, the mangroves in the Ten Thousand Islands also make up an excellent snook habitat. The right boat is crucial since it's important not to spook the fish with your motor or crashing of the waves against the wrong type of hull. Snook are notoriously difficult to catch since they're extremely smart and fight hard. Still, with the right backcountry or inshore fishing guide in the world-class fishery surrounding Naples, it's possible to catch twenty to forty on a good day reasonably easily.

The fishing for redfish and speckled trout is also fantastic in Naples. Redfish and sea trout gravitate to the same structure as snook, so the inlets, bays, rivers, and backcountry waters filled with mangroves are a maze riddled with fish, with many hotspots at a time. The rivers and back bays allow nice fish to be caught even in the winter months. Casting live bait like shrimp up near the mangroves where the fish hideout is always a great bet. Hooking a pinfish suspended under a popping cork is also a proven method. Soft body jigs, spoons, jerkbaits, and other topwater lures are also the go-to in the backcountry.

Naples gets a migration of giant tarpon every spring, and juvenile tarpon can be caught in the backcountry year-round. Tarpon is an unforgettable fish to catch with its majestic leaps making memories to last a lifetime. Their strength and acrobatics make it extremely difficult to get one to the boat, however. While Naples is south of the world-famous Tarpon hotspot, Boca Grande offers opportunities to catch fish just as big if you know what you're doing. In addition to the passes, Naples and Marco Island beaches hold fish in about eight to twenty feet of water. The best bait for tarpon is typically dead or live bait, not artificial lures.

Further, off the coast, you'll find one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet for deep-sea fishing. With plenty of reefs, ledges, and wrecks that hold snapper and all sorts of grouper: black grouper, red grouper, gag grouper, and even monstrous goliath grouper, you never know what giant fish you'll catch. The Kidd Wreck is a famous sunken barge fifteen miles offshore that holds snapper, barracuda, and 

grouper. The R Tower, found around thirty miles offshore, is an old Air Force radio tower where the underwater structure and the corral growing on the legs of the tower provides a perfect habitat up and down the entire water column. In addition to jumbo goliath grouper, many fish species local to Florida can be found here, even cobia. With recent high pressure affecting public knowledge of deep-sea fishing spots, it's been secret spots recently that have produced the best offshore.

Nearly any species of Florida fish can be caught in Naples. Flounder and sheepshead are common in Dollar Bay. For freshwater anglers, peacock bass are abundant in Naples' many rivers and canals. Naples has an incredibly diverse fishery, especially unique because of the abundance of fishable backcountry water to cover. Naples is also known for its top-tier fishing guides, who study those waters and know the best spots and techniques for each location. Naples fishing charters offer tremendous fishing diversity, and Guidesly.com is the best place to find a charter boat.

Seasonal Fishing

Naples fishing is hot year-round, with different gamefish always in prime season. Here's a brief rundown. Redfish, trout, and snook fish are always biting, which means Naples always has sought after gamefish. Redfish and spotted seatrout can be caught all year round, with the best trout fishing in the spring and the best redfish bite in the spring and fall. Snook can also be caught year-round, with a slight lull in the winter but still great fishing. The peak season for sheepshead and most grouper species is the winter, but grouper can also be caught effectively year-round. The best tarpon fishing in Naples is during the summer months. No matter what time of year, an inshore or offshore fishing trip in Naples can be an incredible experience targeting highly sought-after gamefish.

Fishing Locations:

• Gordon Pass
• Naples Bay
• Dollar Bay
• Cocohatchee River
• Gordon River
• Marco Bay
• Johnson Bay
• Rookery Bay

Naples Florida Fish Species Seasonality:

Naples Florida Monthly Weather:

The seasonal weather above is the average maximum temperature, average minimum temperature, and average temperature for each month of the year.  Below find the average rainfall amount for the month, average wind speed, average heat index, average relative humidity percentage, average cloud cover percentage, and miles of visibility.  The chart below details the possible impact of a high Heat Index temperature.

Naples Local Adventures & Things to Do:

1. Charter fishing

Naples is home to some of the top fishing captains in the world. Naples fishing charters cater to beginners and expert anglers alike, and it's the perfect spot to catch your first fish or hunt trophy game fish like snook, tarpon, or reds inshore or go deep-sea fishing for giant grouper!

2. Golf

While most Florida courses are private, there are over twenty beautiful golf courses near Naples that are open to the public. If you get the chance, the Arthur Hills course at Club Pelican Bay is a famed golf club.

3. Major League Baseball Spring Training

Each spring, the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins play their Spring Training games in nearby Fort Myers, around forty-five minutes drive from Naples.

4. Kid-Friendly

Whether it be Naples' beautiful beaches (listed below), the Sun-n-Fun Lagoon waterpark, or Cambier Park with its playground, tennis courts, and live music, there's plenty to do for the family. Check out the Golisano Children's Museum. Featuring 38,000 square feet of interactive play, this incredible place is a great place for families. Golisano features lots of legos, science, exhibits, programs, and activities. The Museum is best suited for ages 2-12.

5. Old Naples

Old Naples refers to the neighborhood from Third Street South heading north to the Naples Beach Hotel. It is a scenic neighborhood with original homes dating back to the early 1900s. The community streets are filled with mature Palm trees and tropical landscaping.

6. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The crown jewel in the National Audubon Society's sanctuary collection, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, provides a closeup exploration of six pristine native habitats, including saw grass, slash pine, and marsh, along a shady 2.25-mile boardwalk trail. The centerpiece is North America's oldest virgin bald-cypress forest, with majestic specimens more than 600 years old and 130ft tall.

Abundant wildlife includes nesting alligators, night herons, endangered wood storks, and trees full of ibis. However, when spotted, two rare species make the news: the famed ghost orchid and the elusive Florida panther. Volunteers help point out wildlife, and signage is excellent; the visitor center rents out binoculars. Corkscrew is a must-see adventure.

The preserve is southeast of Fort Myers and northeast of Naples; take I-75 exit 111 and head east on Hwy 846/Immokalee Rd to Sanctuary Rd. Follow the signs.

Naples Beaches:

1. Naples Beach

Clear, emerald-green water and a wonderful white sand beach await the visitor to this historical Naples Beach. The pier stretches 1000 

feet into the gulf and is a great place to catch a sunset. Built-in 1888 as a freight and passenger dock, narrow-gauge train rails spanned the pier's length transported cargo and passengers in the early 1900s. The pier was rebuilt several times after fire & hurricane damage (1910, 1922, 1926, 1960 & 2015). It's a favorite spot for local anglers. Since you don't need a license, you might want to try your luck.  Naples Pier is at 12th Avenue South extending 1,000 feet into the gulf. It is excellent for fishing or watching sunsets. Facilities include metered parking, bait, snack bar, restrooms, and outdoor showers.

2. Lowdermilk Park & Beach

Lowdermilk Park is a popular tourist spot. The park features 1,000 feet of pristine beachfront, picnic tables for lunch with family and friends, a playground for the kids, a volleyball court for the athletically inclined, and a duck pond where you can relax in the shade. It's an ideal place for you to watch one of Naples spectacular sunsets at the end of the day. Lowdermilk is one of the finest Naples Beaches.  Facilities Include parking, restrooms, showers, pavilion, picnic tables, and concessions.  Banyan Blvd. and Gulf Shore Blvd.  Phone: 239-434-4698

3. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area & Beach

This 166-acre state park is a narrow barrier island featuring mangrove swamps and tidal creeks. It features a 300-foot white sand beach where you can swim and sun. The local wildlife habitat is lush with sea oats, sea grapes, and cabbage palms.  There is a scenic Nature trail and be sure to stop at the observation tower to take in the scenery. The boardwalk leads out to the pass and offers a scenic view of the waterway.  If you like to scuba or snorkel, there is a hard-bottom reef that runs along the beach. Whether you enjoy birding, boating, fishing, hiking, or kayaking, there is always something to do.  Facilities include five parking areas, picnic tables, BBQs, boardwalks, showers, bathhouses, picnic pavilion, observation tower, boat-launching ramp, swimming, boating and fishing restrooms.  Hours: 8 am to Sunset Daily.  11100 Gulf Shore Drive, North Naples. 

4. Barefoot Beach Preserve

Over 350 acres of pristine beaches and woodland trails highlight the Barefoot Beach Preserve trip in northern Collier County. Enjoy a mile and a half of natural beach covered with powdery white sand. A great trail system meanders through the tropical hammock and mangrove swamp. It is a perfect place for watching wildlife, with turtles, ospreys, and bald eagles being a common sight. A learning center features exhibits on sea turtles and shorebirds.  Lectures are offered on subjects as varied as shelling and fossil collection.  Facilities include showers, restrooms, snack bar, fishing ramps, picnic tables, fishing gear rental. South off Bonita Beach Road.

5. Bonita Beach

With two and one-half acres of beachfront park, Bonita Beach is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Swimming, soaking up the sun, hunting for shells, sailing, building sandcastles, or playing volleyball all make for a fun-filled day.  This is a popular place to enjoy one of Southwest Florida's magnificent sunsets. At the south end of the beach is the county-run park with parking, showers, picnic areas, and grills.  Bonita Jetski and Parasail offer everything you might want for a perfect day on the beach, including jet skis, catamaran sailboats, and parasailing.  Open all day, Doc's Beach House is a great place to grab a burger or pizza and a cold drink.  Facilities include restrooms, showers, snack bar, picnic area, volleyball, and watercraft rentals. Bonita Beach Park, 27954 Hickory Blvd, Bonita Springs.  Phone 239-949-4615

6. Clam Pass Park & Beach

Dunes and mangroves dot this natural 35-acre park. You can take a 20-minute walk along the three-quarter-mile boardwalk through the mangroves to 3,200 feet of beachfront or take the tram service that runs every six minutes. The concession area and picnic pavilions make this park a popular gathering spot. A concessionaire rents kayaks, canoes, and sailboards.  The park also features a canoe launch, showers, and restrooms.  Facilities include a scenic boardwalk, kayak, catamaran rentals, beach chairs, trolley rides, outdoor showers, bathrooms, and a snack bar. Seagate Drive, Naples. (South of the Naples Grand)

7. Dog Beach

Located just south of Lovers Key off of Hickory Boulevard, Dog Beach is the only one of the Naples beaches where dogs are allowed to run free.   If your canine is your best friend, you will want to take him.  You can both frolic in the surf, and he can play with his newfound friends.  There are doggie bags available at the parking lot, and please remember water as there are no facilities. Open from sunrise to sunset, and features free parking.