Centennial Fishing Pier

Centennial Fishing Pier is a quiet county pier over Coral Creek at Placida, and one of only two Charlotte County fishing piers the county lists as open after the 2024 hurricanes.

• A narrow wooden pier over a mangrove tidal creek off Gasparilla Sound
• Snook, redfish, snapper and sheepshead
• No fee listed
• The public alternative while the Placida and Boca Grande piers stay closed for restoration

The pier is at 14021 Gasparilla Road (County Road 775) in Placida, on the north side of the road where it crosses Coral Creek, north of the Boca Grande Causeway.

• Entry: no fee is listed
• Hours: the county's park-hours sheet lists 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the site; follow posted signs
• Parking: the county page gives no parking details; a 2011 state survey placed the pier's parking lot across the road, so take care crossing Gasparilla Road
• Surface: a wooden pier with rails; that 2011 survey listed it as handicap accessible
• The county's Placida and Boca Grande fishing piers nearby remain closed long-term

Coral Creek drains mangrove backcountry into Gasparilla Sound, so fish follow the tide in and out.

• Spring (Mar–May): snook and redfish move into the creek, sheepshead finish their run
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook, mangrove snapper, juvenile tarpon rolling at dawn, jacks
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and snook on the mangrove edges, trout returning
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the pilings, trout in the deeper holes

Light to medium tackle is plenty.

• Snook and reds: live shrimp or small pinfish on a 1/0 circle hook with 20 to 30 lb leader, cast toward the mangrove edges
• Snapper: shrimp on a small hook near the pilings
• Sheepshead and drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a knocker rig straight down
• Trout: shrimp under a popping cork or a small paddletail
• Juvenile tarpon: small swimbaits or live shrimp at first light in summer

Tides here are mixed and small: NOAA's Placida station, beside the pier, shows two uneven highs and lows on most days and one on some, with a range of only about one to one and a half feet.

• The outgoing tide flushes bait out of the creek and is the best time for snook and reds
• High, incoming water lets reds push into the mangroves
• Early morning and evening are best in summer
• Heavy rain darkens the creek; fish the incoming tide after a storm
• Winter cold snaps bring sheepshead and drum to the pilings

An easy, sheltered pier.

• The railed wooden pier was listed as accessible in a 2011 state survey; check the approach before relying on it
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums bite at dusk in the warm months
• Summer lightning: leave at the first thunder
• Watch road traffic on Gasparilla Road when parking and crossing
• No shade on the deck; bring water, a hat and sun protection for midday sessions

Basic facilities only.

• A portable toilet is listed by the county
• No bait or tackle on site; bait shops are in Placida and Englewood
• No lights or food at the pier
• Bring a cooler with ice, a pier net and bug spray; there is nothing to buy at the pier itself, so stock up in Placida or Englewood before you arrive

• Fish the last of the outgoing tide at dawn for snook on the mangrove edges
• Bring a pier net; lifting fish over the rail breaks light lines
• Sheepshead from December to March are the most dependable fish
• Bug spray is essential on summer evenings
• Dogs are not allowed on the pier
• Keep an eye on the county's pier status page; this pier closed briefly in 2026 before reopening

The pier is run by Charlotte County Community Services; follow posted park rules.

• The pier does not provide a fishing license: residents need the free shoreline license and visitors a saltwater license, unless exempt
• Dogs are not allowed on the pier
• Tarpon have special release rules: check FWC
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything