Naples Florida Estuaries and Wildlife
Naples Florida Estuaries and Wildlife. Clam Bay, a magnificent 570 acre estuary, reaches from Seagate to Pelican Bay. It flows into the Gulf of Mexico through Clam Pass which is between the Naples Grand and Pelican Bay. Clam Pass is man-made and many locals know the intriguing story of its creation (ask me!) but it resulted in a truly unique estuary system which was deeded to Collier County in the late 1980’s.
Clam Bay is an excellent place for fishing, canoeing or kayaking. Pelican Bay residents and guests have a unique access and rentals for this remarkable bay through Pelican Bay’s outstanding amenities. Seagate homeowners typically have access to the bay from their private docks. Non-pelican Bay and Seagate residents can enjoy Clam Bay through public access points such as Clam Pass located on the beach.
In Clam Bay, the brackish water (mixture of salt and fresh water) may appear slightly brown. This effect is caused by our the 3 species of Mangroves: red, blakc and white. Mangroves provide a rich feeding and nursery area for our marine life as well as protect our coastal line from storms and erosions. Mangroves are essential to our ecosystem and are legally protected.
While in Clam Bay you may observe a plethora of wild life.
Birds you may see include: Pelican, Osprey, Snowy Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Belted Kingfisher, Cormorant,
Wood Stork and several species of Heron.
Birds you may see include: Snook, Redfish, Sheepshead, Mullet, Snapper, Jack Crevelle, Needlefish, Stingrays, Starfish and often Catfish as well.
When exploring Clam Bay, it is essential to keep track of the tides as there are multiple mudflats and shallow areas that may be more difficult to pass through at low tide. Clam Bay is a beautiful habitat for our wildlife and an unfortgetable experience.