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Redfish pass
Often called the Gulf's answer to West Palm, the beaches
from Sanibel/Captiva Island through Naples are where money and escapism combine
in a more residential setting. Lacking the population centers of Tampa and St.
Pete, not only are there less people, but most of them are well beyond the
median age of your average waverider. Furthermore, these beaches are separated
from the Tampa area's coastline, which cuts down on visits from the traveling
bands that rove between Venice and Bradenton. However, while this may be the
least crowded stretch of the southern Gulf, there are still surfers, and they
can be protective of their keep, especially around sensitive areas like Sanibel.
Though very developed and super expensive, the skinny little island is quite
beautiful and is a last bastion of historic Old Florida -- instead of brand-new,
multimillion-dollar stucco houses, it's half-century-old, multimillion-dollar
stilted houses. The Sanibel area is also notoriously private; in fact, there's
only one road in and out, to discourage the hoards of wanna-be visitors. Take
Highway 867 off Highway 41 and follow it west, through the usual assortment of
resort retail businesses, and onto the island. Surfers are one of the few groups
not taken with Sanibel, which is surprising because it hides a bunch of good
potential for hard-breaking insiders. Those who know, like their little secret
-- as do the residents -- so tread softly and park wisely.
Captiva's most northern break, Redfish will be smaller than the rest of the
island, but it has the potential to be cleaner, depending on the winds. It's
easy to find -- just drive north until you get to South Seas Plantation -- but
hard to get in, because this ritzy resort is quite exclusive. Your best option
is a boat, or the equivalent cash to buy a room for a while.
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