By: Mike Hammond
With such great locations such as Tarpon Bay and Wildlife Drive on Sanibel, it’s no wonder that Bowman’s Beach is sometimes overlooked as a paddling and angling destination. The beach itself is no secret, and the large parking lot fills up quickly during tourist and snowbird season. However, this time of year, paddlers can take advantage of empty parking spots and open space on the sand.
The ADA floating paddlecraft launch is located in the smaller back lot. No parking fees are required here if you have a valid Lee County Parks & Recreation parking sticker. If you don’t have a one, the fee is $5 per hour.
From the launch, it’s about a 1.2-mile paddle northwest to reach the backside of Silver Key Beach. You can beach your paddlecraft or walk it across the sand to the Gulf. The last time I was there, we had the place to ourselves and there were plenty of great shells yet to be picked over. This part of the beach gets washed over during high tides and storms. The entire paddle is lined with mangroves and lots of wading birds.
If you’re looking for more backwater angling opportunities, paddle east from Silver Key keeping the mangroves on your left. This route eventually leads to docks and the little cut-through to Dinkins Bayou. Be aware that many other anglers like to fish this cut-through from land.
While Blind Pass to the north gets most of the surf action on wavy days, Bowman’s often has waves big enough for SUPs and kayaks to enjoy. Don’t hesitate to bring along inflatables on family beach days. At the very least, you’ll be able to paddle your bait out farther if you’re fishing from shore.
If you want to get serious about fishing off the beach, stop by Whitney’s Bait and Tackle and pick up some crab for tarpon. Whitney advised that there are unlimited opportunities at Bowman’s: snook, redfish and sea trout off the flats and mangroves in the backwater; snapper and sheepshead under docks; and tarpon and shark off the beach. Fly-fishing anglers will want to stop by Sanibel Fly Outfitters to find out which patterns are working and get some tips.
After your paddle, there are spots to rinse off your gear at the launch or near the bathrooms. Local government did a great job considering paddlers at this beach park.
If you catch a few fish you can keep, the Lazy Flamingo 2, located at the eastern end of the island, will be happy to cook your catch. Even if you don’t catch anything, the Lazy Flamingo, Doc Ford’s, Mud Bugs and Timbers will share some of their fish. There is a long list of places to get great seafood on Sanibel and Captiva.
With easy access, a variety of angling opportunities and Sanibel sunsets, there’s no reason not to hit Bowman’s as soon as you can.