Bunche Beach Preserve is a wade-and-paddle fishing spot on San Carlos Bay, and the county’s rules for it are specific. Our location page covers the basics. This post is about the parking meter, the launches and the bans.
Lee County Parks lists the hours as “Dawn to Dusk” and the cost this way: “Parking is $2 per hour” (Lee County Parks & Recreation, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). The page adds: “Lee County Parks & Recreation Annual Parking Pass is valid at this location.” A morning on the flats runs several hours, so the meter adds up. If you fish here weekly, the annual pass is the thing to price.
On capacity, the page says: “Approximately 100 vehicles can park between the site and the beach with no vehicles allowed to park on the west side of John Morris Road” (Lee County Parks & Recreation, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). Do not park on the road shoulder across from the lot.
The page lists “Two paddlecraft launches.” It also states: “Outfitters launching from Bunche Beach will be required to pay the on-site vendor a fee of $5 per vessel to launch their equipment” (Lee County Parks & Recreation, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). The wording is about outfitters, meaning commercial operators. The page does not state a launch fee for a private individual with their own kayak. Confirm with the park if you are guiding.
The county page lists these restrictions: “No unauthorized motor vehicles, including electric motors, allowed on the beach.” “No grills or fires allowed.” “Pets are not allowed” (Lee County Parks & Recreation, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). An electric motor is named. If you plan to run a trolling motor from a beach-launched skiff, read that line twice.
Lee County lists these ADA amenities: Fishing, Beach Access, Paddlecraft Landing/Launch, Restrooms, Viewing Areas and Conservation Land (Lee County Parks & Recreation, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). The page does not describe surfaces or distances, so treat the list as a starting point and call the county for specifics.
FWC describes the resident shoreline license this way: “Valid for saltwater fishing from the shoreline or a structure affixed to shore. Not valid when fishing from a vessel, or a shoreline reached by vessel.” The same page lists “Resident Annual Saltwater Shoreline License: No-Cost” (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). The kayak launches matter here. If you paddle out to a sandbar or shoreline, the FWC wording says the resident shoreline license is not valid for a shoreline reached by vessel. Wading from the beach is a different case from landing a kayak on a bar. The county page repeats the basic rule: “A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from shore. There is no fee for Florida residents.”
FWC’s exemption page lists resident seniors age 65 or older with proof of age or residency, and youth under 16 (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). It also lists residents fishing from land or a structure fixed to land who have been determined eligible for the food stamp, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid program by the Department of Children and Families (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). Anyone else needs a license. Our license guide walks through the options.
Check the Lee County page for notices before you drive out. The county has posted construction and closure notices on several other beach parks this fall. Our redfish bait guide covers what to throw once you are on the flats.