10 Best Places in Florida to Fish Without a Boat

The Florida Keys are a chain of tropical islands located approximately 120 miles off the southern tip of the United States state of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. They are well-known as a fishing, boating, snorkeling, and scuba diving destination. Key West's southernmost city is known for its many bars on Duval Street, Mallory Square's nightly Sunset Celebration, and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.

Every angler knows that Florida is indeed the Fishing Capital of the World. And one of the reasons is that it offers many different fishing opportunities— whether you’re fishing from a chartered boat, pier fishing, wading in or casting from the shore. If you want to get off the boat on your next Florida fishing trip, here are 10 of Florida’s best spots where you can fish without a boat:

1. Naples Pier

Naples Pier was once a passenger and freight dock built in the late 1800s. This 1,000-feet long pier has since become a favorite fishing spot on this side of the Gulf of Mexico. It experienced a lot of damage in 2017 when Hurricane Irma struck the state, but now that it’s been reopened for public use, its facilities are just as good, if not better. Catch snook, Spanish and king mackerel, tarpon, cobia, pompano, and sea trout in the area. Don’t forget to ask the local bait shops for the “pink lure.” You can also do offshore fishing here and catch some of the most exciting fish. Deep sea fishing charter is available in the area.

2. Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers

The longest fishing pier in the world, Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers, was once a road bridge spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay. It is now one of Florida’s most productive fishing piers, and what’s even better is that you can drive up on it. There are two piers: the north pier, accessible from the  I-275 South in St. Petersburg, and the south pier, which you can reach from 275 North from Terra Ceia. Some trophy fish you can catch here are the pompano, grouper, mangrove snapper, tarpon, king and Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, cobia, and snook. Some even manage to hook Tiger Sharks.

3. Sebastian Inlet State Park

If you want to fish the Atlantic Ocean and have access to one of the most ecologically diverse estuaries in the country, the Indian River Lagoon, then the Sebastian Inlet State Park is the fishing spot for you. The state park is filled with many opportunities to fish without a boat. It has two rock jetties that let you fish in the ocean, a seemingly endless shoreline, and a lagoon where you can wade fish. Come here for the snook, trout, tarpon, bull redfish, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, and bluefish.

4. Jacksonville Beach Pier

Jacksonville Beach Pier is a 1,320-feet long fishing pier where you can access the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. It gets massive high tides here so that you can catch a few trophies, including barracuda, tarpon, and common dolphinfish or mahi mahi. Expect to see a lot of pompano, black drum, redfish, flounder, and trout action here. Jacksonville fans also love to catch the beautiful sunrise while angling for some good table fare. It’s not free to access, but it is a well-equipped fishing pier and wheelchair-accessible.

5. Causeway Park

Tucked away in the midpoint of the Sanibel Causeway, Causeway Park is a small island with great views and lots of fish waiting to be hooked. This fishing spot has a unique ecosystem, thanks to the waters of the Caloosahatchee River, Pine Island Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico, so you know the fishing is not just plentiful but also diverse. Anglers can both fly fish and wade fish here. Its top catches include cobia, permit, flounder, snapper, pompano, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, and barracuda.

6. Fort Myers Beach Pier

Fort Myers Beach is one of the best and most stunning beaches on this side of Florida and one of the best and most stunning fishing spots. The Fort Myers Beach Pier is right at the heart of the action, with access to the ever-reliable Gulf of Mexico. Here you can enjoy a fantastic sunrise while angling for silver trout, redfish, snook, Spanish mackerel, and grouper. Some even report being lucky enough to catch a bonnethead shark in this part of the island.

7. Lover’s Key

Lover's Key State Park in Southwest Florida is another Fort Myers Beach gem. It is primarily a beautiful wedding spot, but its fishing opportunities are just as beautiful. It is quite secluded, so it’s a fantastic place to cast from the shore away from the crowds. Here you will find big sheepshead, yellowtail snapper, flounder, and some stingrays.

8. New Pass Bridge

If you want to try your luck and hand at snagging a record catch, you should check out the New Pass Bridge. It cuts between the Lido Key and the Longboat Key and is known for its trophy mackerel, snook, and pompano. Fruitful fishing spots surrounding the area include the seawall and the platforms at the base of the bridge on both sides.

9. Venice Jetties

There are two Venice jetties — one called the North Jetty and one called the South Jetty, but figuring out which is which might be a little too confusing if you’re not there. Both jetties give anglers access to the Gulf of Mexico, where you can catch plenty of cobia, snook, redfish, Spanish mackerel, whiting, snapper, pompano, sheepshead, ladyfish, flounder, bluefish, and tarpon.

10. Fort Desoto Park

Fort Desoto Park is consistently on the list of top beaches in America, and its fishing opportunities are also top-notch. Here you can fish from two piers: the Gulf Pier, which gives you access to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Bay Pier, which affords you access to the protected waters of Tampa Bay. The strong tidal waters at the Gulf Pier allow you to target trophy tarpon with your live bait, but if you prefer calm waters, then you should check out Bay Pier, where you can target redfish, Spanish mackerel, and snook. You can also wade fish on the seagrass beds here and get lucky with sea trout, redfish, and snook.

There are plenty more boatless fishing opportunities in Florida. But before making your cast or wading in, make sure you are equipped with the proper fishing license and permits and armed with the knowledge of bag limits and which species are for catch and release only.