Fishing Pier at Anne Kolb Nature Center
A short paved trail leads from the nature center out to a fishing pier on the Intracoastal Waterway, where snook, redfish, and tarpon are commonly caught — all catch-and-release, permit required.
What's here
- The paved Fishing Pier Trail is a 0.25-mile round trip from the nature center to the pier.
- Fishing from the pier is catch-and-release only, and a Florida fishing license/permit is required.
- Snook, redfish, and tarpon are among the species most commonly reported along this stretch of the Intracoastal.
- The paved trail and pier are accessible for visitors using mobility devices.
Good to know
Bring your own Florida fishing license — none are sold on site, and rangers do check.
The Walk Out to the Pier
The Fishing Pier Trail is a short, paved 0.25-mile round trip from the nature center to the pier itself, making it one of the easiest areas to reach without a long walk. The paved surface keeps the trail and pier accessible for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
The pier sits on the Intracoastal Waterway rather than one of the inland lakes, putting anglers on open tidal water instead of the calmer mangrove-lined channels found elsewhere in the park.
What's Biting
Snook, redfish, and tarpon are among the species most commonly reported along this stretch of the Intracoastal, drawing anglers who might otherwise fish from a boat to try their luck from solid ground instead.
As with anywhere on tidal water, timing around the tides tends to matter more than time of day — moving water generally means more active fish, whichever species you're after.
Why Catch-and-Release Matters Here
Fishing from the pier is catch-and-release only, and a valid Florida fishing license is required — none are sold on site, and rangers do check, so it's worth bringing your own before heading out to the pier.
The rule fits with the rest of the nature center's mission: the Intracoastal and the mangrove estuary around it function as a nursery for many of the same species anglers are catching, so releasing fish here helps keep that nursery productive for the surrounding waters.
See the rest of the park
Fishing Pier is one of 6 featured areas at Anne Kolb Nature Center.