Fort Desoto Fishing Pier

Gulf Pier

There are actually two piers at Fort Desoto Park. One is on the bay side and the other is on the Gulf. The pier on this page is the Gulf Fishing Pier. It is the longest (over 1,000 feet). It is open 365 days a year, and always has people fishing on it. There is no charge to fish on the pier, and thanks to Friends of Fort Desoto who purchased a pier fishing license, you will not need to have a Florida fishing license to fish from the pier. The pier used to be open 24 hours, but now closes at 11 p.m.

Note: Fort Desoto Park, like most other County and State Parks, closes at sunset. Gates block access to certain areas of the park. But the fishing piers are open later. The pier has plenty of lighting at night and it has tables with running water to clean your catch.

Bait shop and concession hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm,  Sat-Sun 10am to 5pm. The "bait shop" is more of a tackle shop and food concession. They only sell frozen bait.

Of course, not everyone on the pier came to fish. Lots of people just come out to sit and relax and watch the fishermen. Others are just taking a walk and enjoying the scenery, which is very good here. Across the channel is Egmont Key with its flashing lighthouse. Enormous cargo and cruise ships navigate the deep channel and are fun to watch. It is amazing how fast they move.

Above: when you walk out onto the pier and see lots of birds diving like this, it means there is a lot of bait fish (minnows). This means bigger fish are here too, chasing the bait. If you look closely at the photo, you will notice a clear division between the light green water in the foreground, and the darker water over which the birds are flying. The water is dark because there is a nearly solid mass of millions upon millions of baitfish in the water. The island you see in the distance (upper left horizon) is Anna Maria Island on the other side of the mouth of Tampa Bay.

The pier has a number of roofed shelters so you can get out of the sun, or shelter from the rain. The pier also has concrete benches and tables with running water are provided for cleaning your catch. The pier is lighted at night.

Above: an American egret waits patiently on the pier, hoping for a handout, perhaps an unwanted fish thrown by a fisherman.

I've never been to the Gulf fishing pier at Fort Desoto and not seen a dolphin. This one surprised me. I was watching several fisherment reeling in ladyfish and Spanish mackerel when this dolphin surfaced right in front of me. Unfortunately I had my camera turned off. By the time I turned it back on, the dolphin was further away and this was the best shot I could get.

If you get hungry or thirsty and didn't bring your own food and beverage, the Gulf Pier concession will provide. It is open Mon-Fri from 10am to 4pm, and Sat-Sun from 10am to 5pm. It also sells fishing tackle, t-shirts, and frozen bait.

Above: The Gulf pier at sunset as seen from atop the fort. The lights of the pier are on. Egmont Key can be seen in the distance, and a large cargo ship is moving through the deepwater channel.