Some hefty Florida bass lurk in the upper Estero. Many saltwater species are present downriver of US 41.
October 03, 2025
By Capt. Greg Stamper
East of I-75 between Fort Myers and Bonita Springs in Florida, the Estero River begins its journey toward the Gulf of America. The Estero River starts humbly as a small creek fed by drainage areas and local runoff water sheds. Running slowly during the dry season from December till May, it is a lazy river.
During the summer, it is an important escape for the massive amounts of afternoon rains we get regularly. As it begins to meander through neighborhoods and wooded areas, it grows as it flows under a canopy of trees. As the river widens and then crosses under the Tamiami Trail, it changes character. Here begins the start of tidal influence from the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Those that have spent time fishing, kayaking, and boating this river have enjoyed this hidden gem for years.
The Estero River starts as a freshwater estuary. There are lots of largemouth bass, bluegill, Florida and spotted gar, as well as random cichlids. The Estero River Outfitters is a small locally owed bait shop and kayak rental shop located on US-41 in Estero. The river flows directly behind the outfitter. To keep things simple the water east of the outfitter is fresh and the water to its west, is salty. The outfitter also marks the maximum point even a small skiff can travel up the river. From here up you will need a kayak or something like it. Everything to the west is navigable by boat, and for the most part, marked well. This mixing of the fresh water can produce some crazy catches for anglers wetting a line. Those fishing in the river may be catching a beautiful largemouth bass one cast, and the next, you’re jumping a 10-pound tarpon or snook. The farther to the west you travel the wider the river becomes, and the freshwater fish slowly disappear.
Upper Estero River, near Fort Myers, is a tree-shaded paradise for stream anglers. Backcountry Grand Slam Along the river’s journey it flows through one of our state parks. Here there is one of the rare opportunities to fish the river from land. Once the Estero River has passed the Koreshan State Park, the tidal influence takes over. Here the water is brackish, there are some homes, and eventually mangrove shorelines begin. This stretch of the river will give you a few miles of meandering water to fish until it ends.
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Typically, the water in these areas looks tannic like iced tea as it works its way to and from the Estero Bay Preserve. Most anglers can fish in these areas and catch a backcountry grand slam without ever entering the bay that the river dumps into. Juvenile tarpon, snook, and jack crevalle love these rivers, especially when it rains. The flush of freshwater coming from the east pushes baitfish down the river. The baitfish that come from the freshwater side have no chance of escape from these predators as the water increases salinity.
A variety of baits work well in the summer months when the water is moving well. Depending on how far up the river you intend to travel, some live baits will have difficulty surviving as the salinity drops. I recommend using a variety of artificial baits like small twitch baits, swimbaits, and topwater lures. You will have opportunities to skip cast all the way up the shorelines for the first few miles. If you are fishing with live bait for, tarpon, snook, redfish, or jacks be sure to bring a popping cork.
Redfish are the stars of the show in Estero Bay, where river meets the Gulf. Most of the bottom is rocky in the river and corking your baits allows you to adjust how far down they can go. Typically, if I know it’s three feet deep where I am fishing, I will use a maximum length of two and a half feet of leader to keep from getting hung up. You can freeline or use a small weight to hold bait in one place once you have found a hot spot. Fishing in these rivers also allows a hiding place from the wind on most days. These conditions are ideal for fly fishing anglers. Most of the time when throwing a fly rod, you will not need to cast very far making it easier. Fly anglers will have plenty of room to throw all the way up the river until the overhanging trees take over.
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During the winter months, sheepshead and black drum will also move into the river searching for small crabs, shrimp, and worms feeding off the nutrients coming from the freshwater outflow. Most of these fish will tend to hang out toward the mouth of the river. Small pieces of shrimp, a whole fiddler crab, or a tube worm on a size 1 circle hook will get the most bites. when the fish are big there, they will bend the small hook out causing you to lose fish. When this happens moving up a size or two on hook size may be necessary. Another nice part of fishing the Estero River in the winter months is it stays a bit warmer than the bay water. A degree or two in water temperature may not seem like much but that may be all it takes to get on a good bite when it is cold. Our tropical species like the snook and tarpon take advantage of this in the winter months, so do not be surprised if you find a few of them even in the coldest times of the year.
More Gems in Lee County Southwest Florida’s Lee County is a perennial favorite among traveling anglers inclined toward places with lots to do for family members. Alongside the classic spring tarpon fisheries of Boca Grande and Sanibel Island, the all-season snook bite in Pine Island Sound and the year-round offshore action on kingfish and snapper, there are equally diverse opportunities for friends and family who may enjoy other activities. Here’s a quick rundown of some Lee County travel basics.
Getting There – Easy! Southwest Florida International Airport 11000 Terminal Access Road, Fort Myers, FL 33913 flylcpa.com Lodging – A Few of Many Options Jensen’s Twin Palm Resort & Marina 15107 Captiva Drive, Captiva, FL 33924 (239) 356-8860 Full-service marina, boat rentals, gas, bait, small store, lodging, historic cottages. jensensmarina.com Diamondhead Dining Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille 708 Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-9660 Local Florida food, fun live music and waterfront seating along beautiful Estero Bay on San Carlos Island. Named after central character in the book series by Randy Wayne White, local novelist (and former tarpon guide).
docfords.com/fort-myers-beach Fresh Catch Bistro (Snook Bight Marina) 4761 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 488-2400 Seafood delicacies. freshcatchbistro.com History & Culture Edison and Ford Winter Estates 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901 Travel back to the early 1900s to see how captains of industry Thomas Edison and Henry Ford enjoyed the region—and the dawn of tarpon fishing. edisonfordwinterestates.org Professional Sports JetBlue Park Boston Red Sox Spring Training, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913 (239) 226-4700 or (877) 733-7699 For more Lee County and Fort Myers travel pointers, see visitfortmyers.com .
This article was featured as a “Florida Gem” in the August-September issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Click to subscribe .
