Trout River Pier Fishing

Trout River Pier is a city fishing pier that runs out beside the Main Street bridge over the Trout River, with the Jacksonville Zoo across the water. The city lists it as open around the clock, so it suits an evening session.

• Spotted seatrout, redfish and croaker are the regular catches
• Black drum and sheepshead around the bridge pilings in the cooler months
• Open 24 hours, with lights in the evening according to Visit Jacksonville
• Restrooms and wheelchair access listed by the city

The pier is on the south bank of the Trout River in north Jacksonville, where Main Street (US 17) crosses the river. Visit Jacksonville gives the address as 91 Trout River Drive.

• Hours: the city lists the pier as open 24/7
• Entry: no fee is listed
• Parking: the city does not list parking, so park only where signs allow
• The pier runs out over the river along the west side of the Main Street bridge
• The city also lists a boat dock at the site

The Trout River is brackish, and its catch changes with the season and the rain.

• Spring (Mar-May): seatrout, black drum and redfish, with croaker arriving as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker and catfish on the bottom, redfish and seatrout at dawn and dusk
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best season, with seatrout, redfish and flounder feeding on shrimp and finger mullet
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings, seatrout in the deeper water

Light to medium tackle suits this pier.

• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig head worked slowly
• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet, crab or shrimp on a fish-finder rig with 1 to 3 oz of lead
• Croaker: a two-hook bottom rig with small hooks and pieces of shrimp
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader, dropped along the pilings
• Flounder: mud minnows on a Carolina rig along the bottom
• A long-handled net helps land fish from the deck

The Trout River rises and falls twice a day with the Atlantic tide, later than at the St. Johns River mouth, and the water moves steadily around the bridge.

• Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best
• Dawn and dusk are prime for seatrout, and the pier stays open after dark
• Dry spells push saltier water up the river and bring more saltwater fish
• Heavy rain turns the river dark and fresh, and the bite slows
• Cool, calm winter days are best for sheepshead

The city lists the pier as wheelchair accessible and open around the clock, so plan for night safety too.

• The busy Main Street bridge runs right beside the pier; keep children close and watch your back cast
• Night fishing: bring a light and fish with a friend
• Summer lightning: leave the pier at the first thunder
• Never wade or swim here
• Bring water and sun protection in summer

The city lists a short set of facilities, so come prepared for a long session.

• Restrooms
• A boat dock
• A wheelchair-accessible pier
• Lights in the evening, according to Visit Jacksonville; bring a headlamp anyway
• No bait shop is listed at the pier, so bring bait, ice and drinking water
• No picnic shelters or benches are listed, so a folding chair helps
• Pack out old line and hooks, which harm birds and manatees

• Evening sessions can pay off; if the pier lights are on, work the edge of the lit water for seatrout
• Live shrimp is the best bait for seatrout; keep it lively
• Fish the pilings with fiddler crabs for winter sheepshead
• After heavy rain, give the river a few days to clear and salt up again
• Bring a small bucket and a rag; catfish and crabs make a mess of the deck

Trout River Pier is run by the City of Jacksonville's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

• The city lists the pier as open 24/7
• City park rules post floating docks meant for mooring boats as no-fishing areas, so fish from the pier deck
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything