Sanibel is also great for fishing trips, crabbing and angling – and some local restaurants will even cook your catch for you. The cuisine on the island is eclectic and inventive, with converging global influences on display in around 50 restaurants and cafés ranging from waterfront fine-dining venues to colourful ice-cream counters. The island is a fantastic spot for leisurely evening meals as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico.
Snorkelling and diving are big draws here, on both wrecks and artificial reefs that help restock the waters with fish. Of the more than a dozen artificial reefs within 25km of Sanibel are the Edison Reef, created from a former mainland bridge, the Belton Johnson Reef, named after a well-known local fishing guide, and the Red Fish Pass, where a large tug boat was added to several railroad hoppers providing residences for barracuda, cobia, nurse sharks, groupers, amberjacks and moray eels. There is also a wide range of cruises and eco tours, some of them including SUP paddleboarding and other water-sports opportunities.