Florida offers dozens of fishing piers from which h to choose. (Photo by David A. Brown)
December 22, 2025
By David A. Brown
They’ll take you deeper than you can wade without getting your feet wet, while the straightforward on-and-off convenience is quicker than boating — and with much less expense. No question, piers connect folks to a range of depths and angling opportunity from beach shallows to the outer surf.
Basically an emergent reef, the pier offers the overhead shade and subsurface structure that attracts fish, while the ability to reach the larger passing fish expands the opportunity. For optimal results, consider a few key points:
On a Roll : Unless you’re just out for a casual visit, you’ll want to carry multiple rods for different species and presentations, a cooler for bait, drinks and lunch, tackle bag and tools. For a one-trip effort, invest in mobility — either an aluminum framed pier/surf cart, or a lightweight garden cart modified with rod holders.Cast with Care : Notwithstanding the fact that much of your pier opportunity will be right below the guard rails, or just a short pitch away, long casts might help with certain peripheral species. While a 7- to 7 1/2-foot rod will handle most of your close-range work, an 8- to 9-footer definitely lengthens your reach. For those heaving casts, check your 6 for anglers or pier walkers before loading and launching. Give equal care for underhand casts where you swing your bait beneath the pier and snap it forward. Pier undersides are often littered with tangles of line and tackle left irretrievably snagged by an overzealous loading effort. Unsightly, yes, but these snarls claim countless seabirds, when dangling hooks become death snares.Make It Official : One of the biggest misconceptions about any land-based saltwater fishing is the notion that a license is not needed. Fact is, Florida pier fishing requires a saltwater license for out-of-state anglers, but residents between 16 and 64 only need a free shoreline saltwater license, unless they possess a valid saltwater fishing license, which covers land-based and boat-access fishing. (For Florida licenses, click here )Florida offers several opportunities to put your preparation into practice. Here’s a list of consistently productive piers where you can access a wide range of saltwater species.
Navarre Pier Florida’s longest pier, this unmistakable 1,545-foot-long structure with the spacious octagonal end stands 30 feet above the Panhandle waves. Tucked between notable neighbors, Pensacola (west) and Destin (east), Navarre tends to fly under the radar, but the beaches views are spectacular and this pier brings a broad range of Gulf fishing opportunity well within reach.
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Location : 8579 Gulf Boulevard, Navarre BeachPier Info : Click Here Common Species : Whiting, pompano, redfish, flounder, black drum, cobia, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, jacks, tarpon.Big Pier 60 Named for State Road 60 (aka Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard), which runs across the state and makes its western terminus right in front of one of Florida’s most popular sand strips — Clearwater Beach — Big Pier 60 has been a coastal centerpiece since its original construction in 1962. This 1,080-foot fishing pier includes a bait shop with tackle, food/drinks and equipment rentals.
Location : 7 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater BeachPier Info: Click Here Common Species : Snook, speckled trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, cobia, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, black drum.Fort De Soto Piers We’ll use one entry here, but the gem of Pinellas County actually holds two fishing structures — Gulf Pier and Bay Pier, appropriately named for their facing angles. Named for the Spanish-American War military site that once guarded the mouth of Tampa Bay, Fort De Soto Park comprises five interconnected keys — Madelaine, St. Christopher, St. Jean, Bonne Fortune and Mullet. The latter offers a family-friendly array of beaches, picnic pavilions, shower/restrooms, dog beach, running/biking paths, campground and the two piers. Bait, tackle and food/drinks available.
Location : 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra VerdePier Info : Click Here Common Species : Mangrove snapper, snook, redfish, flounder, grunts, gag grouper, jacks, Spanish mackerel.Sunshine Skyway Pier With two sections flanking Tampa Bay, this pier comprises remnants of the original Skyway Bridge, which suffered catastrophic damage when a freighter collided with a main span piling in 1980. After the subsequent demotions, the bridge’s north and south ends were capped and converted into pedestrian and vehicle-friendly fishing piers with bait shops and restrooms.
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Location : North Pier — 4905 34th St. South #5000 St. Petersburg FL 33711. South Pier — S Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier, Terra Ceia, FL 34250Pier Info : Click Here Common Species : Snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, pompano, and black drum.Note : The state requires anglers to take the Skyway Fishing Pier Education Course prior to fishing this structure.Venice Pier The Hurricanes of 2023 and 2024 caused significant damage, which temporarily closed the pier, until its reopening in September 2025. Now, the 720-foot structure welcomes anglers seeking their shot at the Gulf Coast assortment. Owned by the City of Venice, the pier offers free access, but anglers are limited to one line in the water at a time. Also, shark fishing is prohibited.
Location : 1600 S. Harbor Drive, VenicePier Info : Click Here Common Species : Snook, trout, mackerel, sheepshead, black drum, cobia, tarpon.Channel 2 Bridge A wide pedestrian walkway/bike lane between the lower end of Lower Matecumbe Key and the upper end of Craig Key functions like a pier by offering drive-up access to one of The Upper Keys’ most productive areas. Approach slowly and you’ll often spot iguanas sunning right by the entrance point.
Location : US-1, Mile Marker 73, Islamorada
Pier Info : Click Here
Common Species : Snapper (mangrove, mutton, cubera, yellowtail), grouper (gag, black, Nassau), cobia, barracuda, mackerel (Spanish, cero), hogfish, wrasses, parrotfish and tang (blue, doctorfish).
Miami South Pointe Pier Located adjacent to the north jetty at Government Cut running between Miami Beach and Fisher Island, this 450-foot pier blends abundant angling action with impressive views of Downtown Miami, the local cruise port and would famous Miami Beach. Proximity to the jetty rocks brings two major habitat elements (the pier and the rocks) within easy reach and widens the species abundance.
Also, with a major shipping channel bringing daily tidal flushing right past the pier, perimeter waters often offer shots at coastal pelagics.
Location : 1 Washington Ave., Miami BeachPier Info : Click Here Common Species : Mangrove snapper, grunts, hogfish, parrotfish, wrasses, jacks, flounder, Spanish mackerel.Deerfield Beach Pier This 976-foot Southeast Florida pier complements its traditional beach and outer surf access with a natural reef running underneath. This broadens the menu of available species and allows for more close-range techniques. The City of Deerfield Beach operates a live underwater camera that shows the variety of sea life swimming beneath the pier.
Location : 150 NE 2nd AvenuePier Info : Click Here Common Species : Pompano, whiting, redfish, flounder, snook, mangrove snapper, tarpon, Spanish mackerel, grunts, parrotfish, wrasses, sergeant majorsSebastian Inlet Pier The inlet’s south jetty has a partial walking surface, but the famous north jetty’s fully paved walkway extends seaward from the inlet’s eastern edge with a spacious fishing pier. Bending at a southeasterly angle, this pier is a renowned big-fish spot, especially during the fall mullet run when heavyweight predators follow the food source well within casting range. When tides pin mullet schools between the beach and the jetty pier’s north side, the feeding melee often is right below your feet.
Location : 9700 South Highway A1A, Melbourne BeachPier Info : Click Here Common Species : Snook, redfish, tarpon, sharks, jacks, grouper (gag and Goliath), snapper (mangrove, cubera), black drum, Spanish mackerel, flounder.Jacksonville Beach Pier Bring your own gear, or rent a rod onsite, this Northeast Florida favorite south of Mayport Inlet sees a rich mix of inshore and coastal species. Extensive damage from hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Irma (2017) shuttered the “Jax Beach” Pier, but after a lengthy closure, reconstruction yielded a higher and more storm-resistant structure, which reopened July 6, 2022. Fish the beachside shallows for light tackle fun, or hike the 1,300-foot length to target larger species at the end.
Location : 503 1st Street North, Jacksonville BeachPier Info : Click Here Common Species : King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, cobia, redfish, trout, pompano, croakers, whiting, spot, and flounder.
