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Some say you have not fished until you hook into a fish as big as you are.
Outer Island Fast Facts
Tour the outer islands of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel by sailboat charter or on a dining cruise. Sample the local flavor served up in historic restaurants or catch some on your own line, and enjoy the unique character and tradition of each island’s quiet beaches, shelling and sightseeing opportunities.
Tour the outer islands of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel by sailboat charter or on a dining cruise. Sample the local flavor served up in historic restaurants or catch some on your own line, and enjoy the unique character and tradition of each island’s quiet beaches, shelling and sightseeing opportunities.
  Boca Grande Lighthouse |
There are many ways to explore the outer islands. Several sailboat charter companies offer tours. Charter fishing captains and Sanibel Island cruise boats also conduct sightseeing, shelling and adventure trips. Captiva Cruises has regularly scheduled trips to the upper islands such as Cabbage Key, Useppa and Boca Grande.
North Captiva
Once a part of Captiva Island, North Captiva was severed during the hurricane of 1926. Four miles of state-owned beaches are favorite weekend destinations. At its northern end, bordered by Captiva Pass, is a sheltered bay known as Safety Harbor. There, two restaurants cater to vacationing islanders, anglers and boaters. Tropical sauces and fresh herbs adorn fish and fowl and can be found on the menus alongside cheeseburgers and black beans with rice.
Cabbage Key
Boating can also lead to a culinary adventure. Cabbage Key is home to the famous Cheeseburger in paradise and a rustic restaurant and bar, Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant. The walls are lined with dollar bills, placed there by visitors carrying out a tradition begun long ago. Fisherman would tack a spare dollar on the wall for days when fishing was not so good but their thirst was deep. Today, the money is signed and dated reflecting the origins of the thousands of visitors who come to the island.
Useppa
 Useppa Island |
Cayo Costa
To the north is one other quiet, unbridged barrier island, Cayo Costa. The least visited state park in Florida, this sleeping giant has 8.5 miles of beaches and offers some of the best shelling in the world. At its northern end, the state maintains a camping area, picnic tables and restroom facilities.
Gasparilla Island
At the mouth of Charlotte Harbor is Boca Grande. From May through mid July, Boca Grande Pass is one of the most intensively fished areas in the world. Boats are so close together that you can hop from one to the other. All are in search of the silver king, the tarpon. Some say you have not fished until you hook into a fish as big as you are. During late spring and early summer, tarpon fill the passes and move into the estuarine waters of Pine Island Sound.
Gasparilla Island State Recreation Area's landmark is the low wooden lighthouse established in 1890 at the southern tip. The lighthouse is open to visitors every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through April and Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. May through October.
If you go . . .
Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant, 239-283-0375, www.cabbagekey.com
Captiva Cruises, 239-472-5300, www.captivacruises.com
Cayo Costa State Park, 941-964-0375, floridastateparks.org
Gasparilla Island State Park/Boca Grande Lighthouse Park, 941-964-0375, floridastateparks.org
Barbara Sumwalt Historical Museum, 239-283-1061, www.useppa.com
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