Snook will spawn around the inlet and hang out in the bridge/pier area coming and going. 1) Fort Desoto Park in south St. Petersburg leads the list on Florida’s left coast. Size, season and bag limits remain the same, regardless of how/where you catch your fish. Snook, pompano, cobia and occasional bluewater surprises such as sailfish and African pompano are caught at Juno Beach Pier. Marco Island is the right place to fish if you love the breathtaking scenery. Increasing coastal development means access can be an issue, but there’s still plenty of great areas where you can enjoy Florida fishing. 8) Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers — The north and south ends of the former Sunshine Skyway bridge spanning Tampa Bay now stand as state park structures offering spacious access to grouper, snapper, mackerel, kingfish, pompano and snook. C2 has parking on both ends; C5 has parking on the south end. Also, be aware of your responsibility to know the state’s fishery laws. Spring and fall bring kingfish within reach, while a summer tarpon bite can make things interesting. Entry fee is $5 and you can drive/park on the beach. From the metered parking area to the pier is a bit of a hike, but it’s a straight shot down the walking promenade running along the cut. Sport fishing boats of all sizes abound. The warm season finds mackerel and jacks around the perimeter. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. On either side of the Dunedin Causeway, cast a bait over the pristine grass flats of St. Joseph Sound, or wade into the usually clear waters where speckled trout, mackerel and redfish roam. Get the Top Stories from Florida Sportsman Delivered to Your Inbox Every Week. Consider the Distance — Pretty obvious stuff, but the walk out and the walk back will cover the same distance. Entry fee is $8 per vehicle, $4 for single occupants. I am thinking about renting a car in Miami and driving down through the keys. Both provide spacious access to a wide range of Keys favorites like snapper (mangrove, lane, mutton and yellowtail), tarpon, grouper, yellow jack, snook and porgies. You’ll find some of the best fishing in Florida right here. 2) Johnson Beach — The Gulfward face of Perdido Key, at the Panhandle’s western edge, this picturesque beach within Big Lagoon State Park is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Size, season and bag limits remain the same, regardless of how/where you catch your fish. A ferry to adjacent Caledesi island extends the opportunities. Proximity to Jupiter Inlet, allows for a good assortment of fish. Jim Sutton Saturday Jul 16, 2011 at 8:28 PM . Steinhatchee is an authentic Old Florida town, where things move at a slower pace. 7) Jupiter Pier — Built in 2015, the 225-foot aluminum fishing pier stands on the west side of U.S. 1 (south bank) where it crosses the Loxahatchee River. Weekly, monthly and yearly passes available. Much of the shoreline is private property, but several spots such as Shoreline Park (west of the Pensacola Beach Bridge) and the Gulf Islands National Seashore Headquarters offer public access to the waterway. It has been found that the best fishing spots in Crystal River offer smooth water, big fish, and a perfect day on the boat. Some people come to Crystal River and assume that they need to rent a boat if they want to go fishing. Don’t ruin your day with a poor choice. Be a Good Neighbor — Any licensed angler has equal claim to public fishing areas, but how we interact with fellow anglers can greatly impact our day. Best Fishing (Without a Boat) in Naples Florida . Continuing past the campground, the looser course through the dunes becomes a little dicey for smaller vehicles. Neoprene or insulated waders keep you comfy in the winter, but during the warm season, simply walk in with lightweight clothing and enclosed shoes. 6) Indian River Lagoon — This vast estuary bristles with boat docks and lays smattered with the grass flats, troughs and bars that provide feeding habitat for snook, redfish, flounder, pompano and the signature species — big speckled trout. It has over 5,373 square miles of lakes to enjoy, making it an ideal location for lake living. Also in the area: the famed Juno Beach Pier, which stretches 990 feet into the Atlantic ($4 admission, to fish). Parking on private property will almost certainly get you ticketed and it may get you towed. Incoming tides always bring a push of activity, but when the fall mullet run piles an enormous biomass in and around the inlet, anglers have a field day with bull redfish, giant snook, tarpon and the occasional cubera snapper. Daily fee $6 (discounts for seniors and active or retired military). Species mix includes trout, weakfish, redfish, black drum, flounder and sheepshead with the occasional striped bass. Reefs also attract pelagic predators, so slinging spoons or pencil poppers on wire leaders might tempt a mackerel or barracuda. Dubbed the “Sailfish Capital of the World,” the city’s emblem is even a sailfish. Each fishing environment provides a beautiful and unique experience. We’ve rounded up 20 examples of where you can go fishing without a boat. Also, the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission now expects anyone targeting sharks from shore to complete an educational module and obtain a free Shored Based Shark fishing permit: MyFWC.com/SharkCourse. Then check out our guide which also includes the catch of the day for each location jack drum... Has over 5,373 square miles of Lakes to enjoy, making it an ideal location for lake living,. Has over 5,373 square miles of Lakes to enjoy, making it an ideal location lake! 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