Message From The Manager

Each of the five aquatic preserves within the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves offers a unique visit of protected submerged state lands, healthy mangrove shorelines, seagrass beds and oyster bars. Southwest Florida’s subtropical climate is home to a variety of animals as well, in addition to migrating birds. Although the areas are all connected by water, each offers unique vistas, worthy of the continued protection for the enjoyment of future generations.  

Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve cradles between the sprawled metropolis of Cape Coral and the rural, agricultural Pine Island. When visiting this aquatic preserve, it almost feels like you are visiting old Florida. There’s a good chance you’ll see a commercial blue crabber checking their traps or kayakers weaving through the mangrove creeks. You may also see Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves staff on water as well, either monitoring rookery islands, assessing their seagrass transects or swapping out one of their continuous water quality instruments. 

During your visit to Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, be on the lookout for Florida manatees and bottlenose dolphins, both of which are frequently seen there, depending on the time of year. The shallow bathymetry of the aquatic preserve includes seagrass beds throughout the area, along with oyster reefs and tidal flats, which become exposed at low tide.

Matlacha Pass is one of southwest Florida’s beautiful aquatic preserves and we look forward to seeing you there. 

Sincerely,

Arielle Taylor-Manges