Barefoot Beach Preserve Fishing

Barefoot Beach Preserve is the wild end of the North Naples coast, an undeveloped barrier island where you can fish a natural beach with nothing behind you but dunes and sea grape.

• Quiet surf fishing for snook, pompano, whiting and Spanish mackerel
• A walk south to Wiggins Pass for deeper water and moving current
• Tidal creeks and mangroves on the back side, reached by kayak
• Nesting sea turtles, gopher tortoises and shorebirds
• Undeveloped shoreline with no buildings behind the beach

The entrance is near the west end of Bonita Beach Road: turn onto Barefoot Beach Boulevard and drive about 1.5 miles south to the preserve gate.

• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, year-round
• Parking: $10 a day unless your vehicle carries a Collier County beach parking permit, paid by the QR code on the signs
• Two parking lots serve the preserve
• Campers over 20 feet and trailers are not allowed
• Surface: soft sand; the walk south to Wiggins Pass is long, so pack light or use a cart
• Kayakers launch from the estuary side near parking area 3

The Gulf side is classic Southwest Florida surf, and the pass adds inshore species on the moving tide.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting in the trough; Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish chase bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook cruise the wash at dawn and dusk; tarpon pods pass offshore; sharks and stingrays along the beach
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, redfish, jacks and mackerel close in, and the pass fishes well
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano and whiting in the surf; sheepshead and redfish around the pass on calm days

Travel light: most of the fishing here means a walk on soft sand.

• Snook: white bucktails, small swimbaits or live pilchards on 30 lb fluorocarbon leader, cast parallel to the beach at first light
• Pompano and whiting: a double-drop pompano rig with sand fleas or shrimp on a 7 to 10 ft rod
• Spanish mackerel and jacks: small silver spoons when birds work bait
• Wiggins Pass: live shrimp or pinfish on a 1/0 to 3/0 circle hook with enough weight to hold in the current
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit

Tides here are mixed, usually two uneven highs and lows a day with a small range, but Wiggins Pass still runs hard at mid-tide.

• The surf fishes best on a moving tide at dawn and dusk
• At the pass, the first and last hours of the outgoing tide are best
• A light onshore chop helps pompano and whiting
• Calm summer mornings suit sight-casting to snook in the wash
• Winter cold fronts bring north winds, cooler clear water and slower fishing

This is a natural beach with few services, so plan ahead.

• Rip currents can form on windy days, and the current in Wiggins Pass is strong; do not wade out at the pass
• Boats run Wiggins Pass constantly; never cast across the channel at passing boats
• Collier County has a maintenance dredge of Wiggins Pass in the works (bids opened in May 2026); if work is under way, keep clear of pipelines and fenced areas
• Shuffle your feet in the shallows to avoid stingrays
• Summer lightning builds fast; leave the beach at the first thunder
• Sea turtles nest here in summer, and gopher tortoises are protected; keep off the dunes
• Access is on soft sand and not suited to wheelchairs beyond the parking areas

Facilities are limited to what the county provides at the parking lots.

• Restrooms at the parking lot 1 pavilion
• Beach rentals (loungers, umbrellas and cabanas) daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• A kayak launch on the estuary side near parking area 3, with no launch fee
• Food, drink, kayak and paddleboard rentals were listed as coming soon in 2026; bring water and supplies
• The Friends of Barefoot Beach Preserve listed the Learning Center and nature trail as closed pending repairs
• No bait or tackle sales were confirmed, so bring your own

• Arrive at the 8 a.m. opening for the quietest water and the best choice of parking
• Fill in a float plan at the attendant's booth before you paddle the back bays
• Pack shrimp or sand fleas on ice before you come; no bait sales were confirmed in the preserve
• Walk south to the pass on a falling tide and fish the last of the outgoing
• Bring a cart, water and shade; there is little of either on the beach
• Check red tide reports before you go in late summer and fall

Barefoot Beach Preserve is run by Collier County Parks and Recreation.

• Open 8 a.m. to sunset
• No dogs or other pets, alcohol, glass, fireworks or barbecue grills
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Snook and tarpon have their own rules: check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything