Marine Experince

 Wiggins Pass



When thinking of Wiggins Pass, most visitors and locals think beach, fishing, and boat launch. Personally, my first thought are the mangroves and observation tower. The beach is just a small part of this persevered barrier island. Florida Hikes shares this with readers; "The Observation Tower Trail at Delnor-Wiggins is a 0.3-mile boardwalk through a tangled coastal tropical forest. Starting near the picnic pavilion, the boardwalk winds its way through these dense woods, leading to an tall tower from which you get a sweeping view of Wiggins Pass and the Gulf of Mexico, with lots of mangroves way down below." 


While boasting one of the most beautiful manmade beaches in the state (white sand here is trucked in often), it is a tiny part of what they park actually consists of; mangrove swamp. A whopping 80% of the park is submerged and mangrove. Why are mangroves critical? They are a naturally evolved filter system. One that evolved with the fauna that depends upon them for clean water, food, and protection. The are also becoming endangered. For certain varieties, critically endangered already. Southwest Florida's coastline is prime real estate, and we've already damaged the Gulf by removing the mangroves and building on the dunes. Thus, a murkier body of water with a siltier bottom. The areas in which reefs were reintroduced and mangroves kept in tact are far cleaner areas to dive. Mangroves can even filter out pollution and heavy metals. 



"The Cocohatchee River is part of a brackish, tidal influenced estuary that flows into the Gulf of Mexico through Wiggins Pass.

In 1996 this estuary, which includes Water Turkey Bay, was declared an Outstanding Florida Water due to its exceptional recreational and ecological significance." (https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/waterways-and-wetlands-delnor-wiggins)

Why are the estuaries so important? According to NOAA "They are often called the “nurseries of the sea” because numerous animal species rely on estuaries for nesting and breeding. Most of the fish and shellfish eaten in the United States, including salmon, herring, and oysters, complete at least part of their life cycles in estuaries." For us it would be Grouper, Snapper, etc. 


(be COVID safe!)


Helpful Links

https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/waterways-and-wetlands-delnor-wiggins

https://www.floridaparks.com/floridastateparks/south_west/delnorwigginspassstateparkphoto2.html (pictures, brochure, and activities)

https://naturalatlas.com/state-parks/delnor-wiggins-pass-2094038

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