Sirenia Vista Park Fishing

Sirenia Vista Park is a quiet nature park where you can fish the saltwater backwaters on Cape Coral's western edge, with manatees, ospreys and wading birds for company.

• A shoreline fishing area that the city lists as open to fishing year-round, in daylight
• Snook, redfish, trout and mangrove snapper along the mangrove edges
• A kayak launch onto the Calusa Blueway toward Matlacha
• Restrooms, a walking path and free parking
• Manatees gather here in the cooler months

The park is at Ceitus Parkway and Old Burnt Store Road in northwest Cape Coral, on the North Spreader Waterway, with a paddling route out to Matlacha.

• Parking: free for cars in the park lot; a fee applies only if you bring a boat trailer
• Hours for fishing: daylight only, as listed by the city
• The walk: a short walking path leads from the lot to the water and the kayak launch
• The city says kayak rentals are available for paddling out toward Matlacha Pass
• The city has completed the first phase of the park's development

The water here is salty to brackish, and the waterway connects toward Matlacha's mangrove backwaters, so inshore fish move through with the tide.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook and redfish along the mangrove edges, trout along the edges, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook at first light, mangrove snapper around structure, small tarpon rolling in the backwaters
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and trout feeding hard, snook still active
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around structure; manatees crowd the park, so fish away from them

Light tackle suits this shallow, sheltered water.

• Snook and redfish: live shrimp or small pilchards on a 1/0 circle hook with a 25 lb leader, or a weedless soft plastic along the mangroves
• Trout: shrimp under a popping cork or a small paddletail on a light jighead
• Mangrove snapper and sheepshead: small hooks and shrimp near structure
• Small tarpon: little plugs or soft plastics at dawn
• A 7-foot medium-light rod with 10 to 15 lb braid is ideal; keep a small landing net

Tides here are mixed, usually two uneven highs and lows a day, with a small range, and the backwaters drain and fill slowly.

• A moving tide is better than slack; the falling tide pulls bait off the mangrove edges
• Early morning is best in summer, before the heat
• Cold fronts in winter drop the water and slow the bite for a day or two, and bring manatees in
• After heavy rain the water runs tea-colored; fish the incoming tide
• Calm mornings let you spot tailing redfish and wakes along the edges

A gentle, easy park with a few natural hazards.

• Never cast toward or near manatees, and never feed or touch them; if one takes a bait, cut the line close and report it to the FWC
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are fierce at dawn and dusk; bring repellent
• Summer thunderstorms build fast; leave at the first thunder
• The water's edge can be soft; do not wade into the mud
• A short walking path and restrooms close to the lot make it easy to reach

The city lists the park's first-phase facilities.

• Restrooms
• A fishing area and manatee viewing spots
• A kayak launch onto the Calusa Blueway, with kayak rentals
• A walking path, a butterfly garden, an osprey nest and purple martin houses for birders
• Free parking for cars
• No bait or food for sale was confirmed; bring bait, water and bug spray

• Come in the cool months to see manatees, but fish well away from where they gather
• Rent or bring a kayak to reach the mangrove edges of Matlacha Pass beyond the park
• Fish the first of the falling tide along the mangroves
• Quit fishing by dusk; the city allows fishing here in daylight only
• Pack out all line and hooks; birds and manatees get tangled in lost gear

The City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department runs the park and lists its shoreline as an approved fishing location.

• Fishing is allowed in daylight only
• Manatees are protected; do not disturb, feed or harass them
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Tarpon have special release rules: check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything