Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve was established in July, 1986.

Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve is an unique, submerged ecosystem of mangrove, seagrass, and oyster communities. It is located in southwest Florida in Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. The bay is a long, narrow estuarine system, running from just south of Placida, north almost to Venice. It is about 13 miles long and averages 3/4 of a mile wide.

Lemon Bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by two barrier islands - Little Gasparilla Island and Manasota Key. Manasota Key stretches along the northern two-thirds of the bay's length.