Fishing spots in Collier County

Collier County is the southern end of Florida's Gulf coast mainland: the beaches of Naples and Marco Island, a string of small passes (Wiggins, Clam, Doctors, Gordon) draining mangrove estuaries, and then the Ten Thousand Islands running into the Everglades. Anglers come for snook above all, plus redfish, trout, mangrove snapper, sheepshead and pompano, and for goliath grouper and tarpon around the islands. Hurricane Ian (2022) destroyed much of the historic Naples Pier, which is being rebuilt with reopening expected around mid-2027, and Helene and Milton (2024) closed parks again; Delnor-Wiggins Pass, Clam Pass and Caxambas Park have all reopened.

North Naples & Wiggins Pass

• Character: Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park's protected beach and the Cocohatchee River pass.
• What it suits: snook, redfish and trout at the pass; pompano and whiting in the surf.
• Access: state park entrance fee; some lots still closed after the 2024 storms.

Naples

• Character: city beaches, Clam Pass and Gordon Pass, and Naples Bay.
• What it suits: snook at the passes and along the beaches, snapper and sheepshead around structure.
• Access: resident-permit or paid beach parking; the Naples Pier is closed for rebuilding.

Marco Island & the Ten Thousand Islands

• Character: Marco's beaches and passes, then mangrove islands to the south and east.
• What it suits: snapper and sheepshead from seawalls; snook, reds and goliath grouper by boat or kayak.
• Access: Caxambas Park (paid by app) and bridge-side shoreline; most of the backcountry needs a boat.

Season	Likely species (shore)	Notes
Spring (Mar–May)	Snook, pompano, Spanish mackerel, redfish	Snook move to the passes and beaches
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Snook, mangrove snapper, tarpon, ladyfish	Dawn beach snook; goliath grouper around deep structure
Fall (Sep–Nov)	Redfish, snook, trout, flounder	Outgoing tides at the passes shine
Winter (Dec–Feb)	Sheepshead, pompano, whiting, trout	Seawalls and pilings; snook shelter in canals

• A 7-foot medium or medium-light spinning rod with 10–15 lb braid and 20–40 lb fluorocarbon leader.
• Live whitebait and shrimp on circle hooks for snook; white bucktails and paddle-tails at dawn.
• Knocker rigs with small shrimp for snapper; fiddler crabs for sheepshead.
• Pompano jigs and double-drop surf rigs on the beaches.
• Heavier gear where goliath grouper live, and release them in the water.

• Tides are small and often mixed along this coast, but the small passes run hard on the outgoing tide as the estuaries drain.
• Fish the outgoing tide at Wiggins and Clam passes; moving water on either tide at Marco's channels.
• Light east winds give clean, calm Gulf water; west winds bring surf and weed.
• Passes shoal and shift after storms, so their shape changes year to year.
• Red tide affects Collier beaches in some years; check FWC's red tide status first.

• Lightning: summer afternoon storms are frequent.
• Pass currents and boat traffic at Wiggins Pass and Marco's channels; never swim a pass.
• Keep clear of swimmers, especially at Clam Pass where people float the pass.
• Stingrays in the shallows; shuffle your feet.
• Beach parking needs a resident permit or a paid space at most county parks.
• Several parks were still recovering from 2024; check the county and state park notices.

• Take the first tram at Clam Pass and fish the outgoing tide at the pass.
• At Delnor-Wiggins, head for the northernmost open lot and walk to the pass.
• Drop small shrimp right against the Caxambas seawall for snapper.
• If goliath grouper move in, change spots; they are protected.
• Winter is sheepshead time on every seawall and piling.
• Carry water; some parks had no fresh water after the storms.
• Watch for the Naples Pier reopening; it will again be the city's main pier.

• Lee County – Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel to the north.
• Monroe County – the Everglades backcountry and the Keys to the south.

• Do I need a fishing license?
  • A Florida saltwater fishing license is needed to fish from shore unless you are exempt or fishing from a pier that holds its own license for its visitors. Check exemptions and buy a license through FWC (myfwc.com).
• Is the Naples Pier open?
  • No. Hurricane Ian destroyed much of it; construction on a replacement began in early 2026, with reopening expected around mid-2027.
• Can I fish at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park?
  • Yes, outside the swimming areas; most anglers fish the pass at the north end. An entrance fee applies.
• Do I need a parking permit for Naples beaches?
  • County beach parks charge a daily fee to non-residents; residents can use a beach parking permit.
• Can I keep a goliath grouper?
  • They are protected; check FWC's goliath grouper rules and release any you hook quickly and carefully.

Area	Coast character & access	Best species	Prime season	Go-to methods	Key safety notes	Facilities
North Naples & Wiggins Pass	State park beach and pass; entrance fee	Snook, redfish, trout, pompano	Spring–fall	Live bait, soft plastics, surf jigs	Pass current and boats	Temporary restrooms, boat ramp
Naples	City beaches and small passes	Snook, snapper, sheepshead	Year-round	Bucktails, shrimp, fiddler crabs	Swimmers at the passes	Restrooms, tram, food at Clam Pass
Marco Island & Ten Thousand Islands	Seawalls, passes, mangrove islands	Snapper, sheepshead, snook, goliath grouper	Year-round	Knocker rigs, live bait	Boat ramps, no-rail seawalls	Ship store at Caxambas