What's happening at the Sanibel Pier?

On the far east end of the Island, the Sanibel Pier is probably best known to those who love fishing.

But with the pier undergoing renovations until the end of August, many are looking forward to having the area back in operation come early September.

And the anticipation is well placed.

The Pier is located at Light House Beach. Cross the causeway from Ft. Myers and keep going straight until you hit the four way stop at Periwinkle Way. Make a left and follow Periwinkle to Light House Beach at the eastern tip of the Island.

There’s plenty here for a fisherman’s friends and family to do while he/she does their thing. There are picnic areas with barbecue grills, short nature trails and a light house. The beach has bath rooms, a drinking fountain and outside showers as well. As icing on the cake, the pier is a social gathering spot and it often appears that the beach goers know each other.  For certain, it is a very popular gathering spot for shore birds, pelicans and egrets of several species who are opportunists and see the fishermen and their bait buckets as very enticing opportunities.   This pier and beach are must see destinations for anyone going to Sanibel.

And if you have not been, here is some more advice guaranteed to raise your interest, particularly if you fish.

The Sanibel Pier is a short pier, but it gets you to the fish. It ends at a deep channel that often has a strong current. This creates a highway for fish moving back and forth between the Gulf and the bay. Schools of bait fish are common near the pilings and right off the beach. They attract game fish. Use a cast net to catch some and you’ll have an unlimited supply of an extremely effective live bait. A wide variety of special fish are caught from both the pier and the adjacent beach, sheepshead, snapper, mackerel and snook. At night the shark hunters come out with their heavy rods and big baits. They’ve battled monsters.

The pier is not the only place to fish. It’s built on Light House Beach which has three distinct sections. There’s the beach next to the pier, here you’re fishing in the bay. There’s the “point”, where the bay and the Gulf of Mexico meet, and there’s the Gulf beach. One spot may be cold while another is sizzling. Watch what other fishermen are doing and look for bait.

And right next to the pier lies another delight for another reason.  Light House Beach is arguably the best shelling beach in the country, but there’s a lot of competition from other collectors for the most prized shells. Your best chance is to get there early or right after a storm. The Gulf waters off Sanibel are shallow. Miles offshore it will be only 40 feet deep. There’s a long, wide, sandy slope to the beaches, creating an ideal ramp for the shells to roll up.

A few yards to the left of the pier, there’s an excellent place to wade. Remember to do the sting ray shuffle. If you want to swim, the Gulf waters are best. The current on the bay side gets strong and will take you places you don’t want to go.

The one downside to the pier is parking. Parking can be a pain. It’s four dollars an hour. It’s wise to buy more time than you think you’ll need. People often stay longer than planned. This place will do that. You buy a ticket at a kiosk and put it on your dashboard. Don’t skip this chore. There’s a $50.00 fine, and they do check.

So, in just a few more weeks, come check out the pier, brand new and waiting for you~