Sanibel is one of the few unique barrier islands of the world, having an east-west orientation when most islands are north-south. Therefore, the island has an abundance of sandy white beaches filled with fabulous shells! Attention all pet owners; Sanibel has a few rules to keep the beaches pristine.  Your pets must be leashed, and you should be sure to clean up after them. Captiva beaches don't allow pets. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited November thru May and open fires and collecting of live shells is prohibited. Restrooms are located at all public beach accesses. Some have picnic tables and all have handicapped parking. Parking at the Sanibel beaches costs 75 cents an hour and the beach parks stay open 24 hours.  As people relax on the islands, they eventually pick up a bright bit of shell. In many cases, it becomes a memento of the islands, a small object that can be easily tucked away in a way that birds, plants, an sunsets cannot. Shells are an integral part of Sanibel & Captiva and conserving the live ones for breeding will insure that they will always remain. Strong winds in summer and winter often catch many live shells up in a sweeping motion and deposit many of them on the beaches. Some species can temporarily be beached at these times and even during normal low tides. Even though these live shells are beached, they are still protected by the City Shelling restriction, and returning them to the water will likely save most to produce future generations. So please, enjoy your shelling but be sure to leave all of the "live" shells where you find them. Letting them live now will ensure that your grand children will know the same enjoyment in the years to come. There are many popular spots to fish on Sanibel & Captiva Islands. The Sanibel Causeway, the fishing pier on the bayside of the Lighthouse, and Blind Pass Bridge are just a few. From deep sea fishing to light-tackle the opportunities are endless. There are also tour boats and charter guides that head for the upper islands for fishing as well as shelling. I recommend these for first timers with little boating and fishing experience. Local guides are particularly helpful when it comes to fishing. They know the habits, feeding patterns, and hiding places of the area fish. Most residents and visitors must purchase a license when fishing in salt or fresh water and they can be had in various places on the Island including The Bait Box on Periwinkle Way, Bailey's Center at the corner of  Tarpon Bay Road, and Jensen's Marina.