Pier Pressure – The Secret Shore Fishing Spots of Sarasota

The first time I ever went deep sea fishing was also the last. The seas off the Outer Banks of North Carolina are notoriously rough, even on a good day; and before we lost sight of land on that pre-dawn morning long ago, I found myself pitched over the side of the boat tossing my breakfast to the fish.

In my defense, I will simply say that I was born in a landlocked state, was barely 12 years old, and had yet to develop my sea legs. Thus, I had no defense against the churning seas off Cape Hatteras and soon found myself pleading with the lord to either take me now or deliver me back to dry land. In exchange for deliverance, I promised to never go deep sea fishing again.

Both sides of the bargain held up. The illness rode its course, we made it back to land; and my vow to never set foot on another fishing boat has not been broken to this day.

Fortunately, the Sarasota-Manatee region offers plenty of places to drop a line that don’t involve being helplessly adrift on the high seas. Like many, I find fishing off a pier to be much more satisfying. It involves minimal planning or expense and offers the flexibility to quit when you’ve had enough. When you tire of fishing—or get seasick like I did—try exiting the boat while it is still ten miles out to sea.

Other advantages include the ability to cast your line from a fixed structure, whose foundations become encrusted with mussels and barnacles which attract all sorts of bait fish and the trophy fish that feed off them.

There is no shortage of public fishing piers along our stretch of the Gulf Coast.  Beginning with the Skyway Bridge and moving south to Venice, the major ones include:

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park

I-275, St. Petersburg, FL 33711   

When the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was built over Tampa Bay, remnants of both ends of the old span were preserved as fishing piers, while the concrete and steel rubble from its demolished mid-section was used to form artificial reefs nearby that created habitat for a variety of game fish.

The pier is divided into two sections, one near the southern entrance to the Skyway and the other near the bridge’s northern end. With over four miles of continuous fishing platform, the pier bills itself as the longest in the world.

Unlike most piers, however, you can drive onto this one and park next to your favorite fishing spot. Moreover, the structure is lighted after dark—which makes it easier to prepare your line, bait a hook and identify what you catch—as the artificial light attracts additional species of fish after dark. Common catches from the two piers include snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, red snapper, pompano and more.

In addition to the $1.50 bridge toll, there is a nominal entry fee for the pier of $4.00 per vehicle, plus $4.00 per adult. Restrooms are available; and snacks, drinks, bait, and fishing supplies are sold around the clock. Click here for more information.

 

Rod & Reel Pier  

875 N. Shore Drive Anna Maria, FL 34216   

One of the best places to eat on Anna Maria Island is also a cool place to fish. With its old Florida vibe and sweeping vistas of the Skyway and Gulf of Mexico, the Rod & Reel Pier has been an island favorite for years. Recently renovated, the two-story structure at the end of the pier has a restaurant upstairs and a casual bar serving beer and wine on the main floor. Be sure to bring your fishing pole and for a small fee, fish right off the pier’s dock and walkways.

 

Bradenton Beach City Pier

200 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217   

Here is yet another instance where remnants of a demolished bridge were preserved and re-purposed as a recreational amenity for the community. When the original wooden bridge to Anna Maria Island was replaced by a draw bridge, the island end of the old span became the new Bradenton Beach City Pier.

The pier, which extends 550-feet into Sarasota Bay, is equipped with shade-producing structures and benches along the way. At the end, the Richard P. Suhre Pavilion offers a shady spot to fish, read a book, or simply enjoy the amazing panoramas of Sarasota Bay.

In all, the pier features a popular seafood restaurant, public restrooms, a retail shop, and a floating day dock. The restaurant, a local favorite, is operated by Anna Maria Oyster Bar.

 

Tony Saprito Fishing Pier

920 John Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34236   

The Tony Saprito Fishing Pier recently reopened after extensive renovations to install a concrete deck and pilings, caps, and light fixtures. Additionally, new railings compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act were installed, along with six benches and three shade-producing structures for relief from the sun.

Nearby, Hart’s Landing Bait Shop offers a variety of live and frozen bait—and plenty of local fishing advice and expertise—to help you fish successfully. The Landing enjoys a park-like setting with plenty of good fishing from the seawall and sidewalks adjacent to the Saprito Pier. There are plenty of benches, a gazebo, and public restrooms available.

Bands play live music here at night with some regularity. Check the Landing’s Facebook page for more information. Plus, if you have never been here, you may find vehicle access a bit tricky. Check here for complete directions.

 

Ken Thompson Park Fishing Pier

1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, Lido Key, FL 34236    

Owned and operated by the City of Sarasota, this 92-acre park—situated on New Pass, where Sarasota Bay feeds into the Gulf—includes a fishing pier, boat ramp, restrooms, playground, covered picnic areas, kayaking, birding; and walking trails through mangrove and restored tidal marshes.

On your way to the park, be sure to visit the New Pass Grill & Bait Shop.  In business since 1929, the waterside shop has an old Florida feel and is a great place to gather intelligence about what fish are biting (and where) while you bite into a delicious grouper sandwich.

If fishing from the pier doesn’t pan out, you can always visit next-door neighbor Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium where you are certain to (at least) see some big fish.

 

North Jetty Park  

1000 S. Casey Key Road, Nokomis, FL 34275

At the southernmost tip of Casey Key, you can fish from a rock jetty that juts into the Gulf even as you watch surfers catch the next wave and pleasure boats slip leisurely through the channel linking the Intracoastal Waterway with the Gulf of Mexico.

Amenities in the park include beach-access parking, bait shop, food concession, picnic shelter, picnic tables, outdoor volleyball, playground, restrooms, and outdoor shower. The park is a popular fishing spot, where the changing tides yield their catch to patient anglers. In case you don’t hook your lunch, the nearby concession offers a variety of foods to enjoy at nearby picnic tables.

There is a South Jetty Park too, but it is across the channel on the Island of Venice and cannot be accessed without first driving south to Venice Beach, then north on Tarpon Center Drive.   The North Jetty, however, is your best bet for pier-like fishing and other waterfront activities.

 

Venice Fishing Pier   

1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice FL 34285  

The Venice Pier extends 700 feet into the Gulf of Mexico.  Due to the graduated depth of the water as the pier progresses out, a variety of fish can be caught—including mackerel, snook, ladyfish, and even sharks. Water depth at the end averages 16 ½ feet (5.03 meters).

The iconic pier is located in North Brohard Park on the south end of Venice Island and is connected to Sharky’s on the Pier Restaurant, one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Sarasota County.  There is no fee to access the pier and anglers of every skill level can fish there without a license.

Papa’s Bait Shop, located midway down the pier, sells live and frozen bait, coffee and snacks, jackets, shirts, and more. Nearby are six picnic shelters, two sand volleyball courts, public restrooms, a pavilion, and a public golf course.  Also, just a dog walk away is Brohard Beach & Paw Park, the only area beach where your pooch can frolic in the sand and surf.

 

Shoreline Fishing:  

If pier fishing isn’t your thing, you can always fish from shore in dozens of waterfront places, including public beaches, beach access points, groins, and jetties.

Shore fishing is not about how far you can cast your line to reach the deepest water. Instead, it is about where you fish, as bait fish tend to congregate near protective rock formations and shallow seabeds. Thus, you will often find the game fish that feed off them swimming in knee-deep water.

Other noteworthy places to fish from shore include:

 

South Lido Beach Park, 2198 Benjamin Franklin Dr.

This 100-acre park at the southern tip of Lido Key is an excellent place to relax while you fish from the beach. Swimming here is fairly limited due to the strong currents that converge here, so you have to compete with large beach crowds and swimmers. Hike further up the beach toward the bay for a quieter fishing experience.

 

Nora Patterson Bay Island Park , 946 Siesta Dr., Sarasota, FL 34242

Bay Island Park offers anglers a convenient place to fish, either from the sea wall or the Siesta Drive Drawbridge. Parking is usually plentiful and there is a portable restroom. Anglers who cast from the sea wall, catch ladyfish, pompano, snapper, snook, trout and more.

 

Phillippi Estate Park,  5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL

A personal favorite, this 60-acre park south of downtown Sarasota boasts a small, usually deserted fishing pier tucked-away in a prime fishing spot on Phillippi Creek.  Enjoy calm tidal waters flowing in and out of the Gulf while casting for snook, redfish, and sheepshead. Keep your eyes open for manatees and otters.

 

ICW Fishery/Nokomis Beach 100 Casey Key Road

On your way to North Jetty Park, after crossing the bridge to Casey Key, you will pass a public parking area that borders a seawall along the Intracoastal Waterway, across from a marina. Casting straight out into the ICW can yield jacks, sheepshead, and redfish. Anglers targeting snook should go left at the parking lot to a small beach that allows you to cast toward the bridge pilings. For shoreline fishing, be advised that Nokomis Public Beach is directly across the road from the ICW fishery and North Jetty Park just a short drive south.

 

Meanwhile, If I neglected to mention a favorite fishing spot of yours, relax. Your secret is still safe.