A short trip east from downtown Fort Myers at the end of Tarpon Street off Edgewood Avenue is the Tarpon Street Pier. The wooden pier extends over a shallow portion of the Caloosahatchee River and gives anglers access to the deeper water of the river channel where they can participate in an age-old method of Florida fishing, cast-netting for mullet. The brackish water in the river is home to many species of fish, among them snapper, sheepshead, snook and spotted sea trout.

A loyal group of anglers meets nearly every day to rest in the shade of the shelter house in the center of the fishing pier at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Community Park. Fishermen and women of all ages drop a line from the pier, which also features a swimming beach, fuel dock and limited free parking. K-C's Riverstop has refreshments, including beer, along with sandwiches and burgers. Anglers take advantage of its Redfish Point location at the end of Driftwood Parkway for a chance to hook a variety of fish including shark, redfish, cobia and snapper.

The soaring Caloosahatchee River Bridge that takes drivers on US 41 into Fort Myers also overlooks one of downtown's best features, the riverfront Centennial Park. Boat ramps, a playground and a fishing pier invite anglers to spend a day along the Caloosahatchee River. Workers in downtown Fort Myers take their lunch breaks in the park, and some even wet a line with a lunchtime hot dog to try and catch fish at Mayor Arthur N. Hamel Pier and along the boat docks in the park. The park is open from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., with paid parking available. A marina anchors the eastern edge of the park where the Edison Bridge makes its twin crossing of the river.

Pine Island Road cuts across northern Lee County through an undeveloped area of palm and pine trees, but with the appearance of the first bait shop just outside Matlacha, the environment quickly changes. The tiny island community lies in the middle of Matlacha Pass, about 12 miles southwest of US 41 on Pine Island Road. The town of art galleries and funky, colorful, Florida architecture boasts a pier and good fishing from the "world's fishingest" bridge that leads from the mainland to the island. Fishermen catch grouper, snapper and even catfish from the pier and bridges that traverse the Matlacha Pass Aquatic preserve. Even at night, the bridge attracts a large complement of anglers relaxing " on island time." After a passing thunderstorm, the deep blue sky flashed the remnants of a rainbow, which was framed by the fishing poles of a family from Cape Coral who were trying their luck at the Matlacha fishing pier in the small-but-very-accessible Matlacha Community Park.