North Shore Park, North Fort Myers Fishing

North Shore Park is a quiet, free county park with a fishing pier on the Caloosahatchee, a handy stop for Fort Myers anglers who want to fish the river without a boat.

• A fishing pier added to the park in 2000, plus river shoreline
• Snook, jacks, ladyfish and tarpon in the channel
• Sheepshead, black drum and redfish when the river runs salty
• Free parking, restrooms, a pavilion and a paddlecraft launch
• Open dawn to dusk

The park is at 13001 North Cleveland Avenue in North Fort Myers, on the north bank of the Caloosahatchee less than half a mile west of the north end of the US 41 (Cleveland Avenue) bridge.

• Parking: free, in the park lots
• Hours: dawn to dusk
• The walk: a short footpath from the lot to the pier
• The Edison Sailing Center, a sailing and boating-safety school, is based at the park, so keep clear of its boats
• Dogs are welcome on a leash

The Caloosahatchee here is a tidal river whose saltiness rises and falls with the rain, so what you catch depends on the season and the water.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook moving back out toward the coast, jacks and ladyfish in the channel, black drum on the bottom
• Summer (Jun-Aug): tarpon rolling in the river, jacks and ladyfish; the river often runs fresher after heavy rain
• Fall (Sep-Nov): snook and redfish feeding as the water cools, mangrove snapper around structure
• Winter (Dec-Feb): snook push up the river toward warmer water; sheepshead and black drum around the pilings

Fish close to structure and the channel edge.

• Snook: live shrimp or pinfish on a 2/0 circle hook with a 30 to 40 lb leader, or a white jig or paddletail worked slowly along the bottom
• Sheepshead and black drum: shrimp or fiddler crabs on a short leader and small strong hook near the pilings
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons, jigs or topwater plugs
• Tarpon: a heavier rod and a live bait or large soft plastic; release them in the water
• A pier net helps land a good fish

The river is tidal, with the coast's mixed tides, usually two uneven highs and lows a day, but the salt level matters as much as the tide.

• A moving tide, in or out, fishes better than slack water
• The incoming tide brings saltier, clearer water up the river
• After heavy rain or big freshwater releases upriver, the water turns dark and fresh and saltwater fish drop downstream
• Cold snaps in winter push snook into the river, where the water stays warmer
• Dawn and dusk are best in summer; midday can be slow and hot

A calm, easy spot with a few river hazards.

• Summer thunderstorms come quickly over the river; leave at the first thunder
• Boat traffic and wakes along the river; keep lines clear of passing boats
• No swimming is allowed in the park
• Banks can be soft or slippery; take care landing fish from the shore
• The pier is a short footpath from the parking lot, so it is an easy place to fish without a long carry
• Bring water and a hat; shade is limited to the pavilion

Lee County lists a good set of basic facilities.

• Free parking
• Restrooms and a pavilion
• A fishing pier and river shoreline
• A paddlecraft launch and hiking trails
• No bait or food for sale was confirmed in the park; bring bait, ice and drinking water
• The park has no confirmed lighting and closes at dusk

• Winter cold fronts are the time for snook; fish the warmest part of the day after a front
• Watch the tide and fish the first hours of the incoming
• Check how dark the river is before you go; clearer water fishes better
• Keep a pier net handy for jacks and snook
• Give the sailing school's boats plenty of room when they are out

Lee County Parks and Recreation runs the park.

• Open dawn to dusk
• No swimming and no alcohol
• Dogs must be leashed
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required to fish from shore; Lee County notes Florida residents can get the shoreline license at no cost
• Tarpon have special release rules: check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything