Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge

The Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge is what remains of the old Pensacola Bay Bridge, kept on as a dedicated fishing pier that let anglers drive their vehicles out over deep bay water rather than walk a deck. Escambia County ran it as a fee pier, with passes for walk-on anglers and for vehicles, until Hurricane Sally's damage in 2020 closed it; a replacement that mirrors the original design began construction in December 2025. When it is finished, it will reopen the same drive-on access that made it a favorite for redfish, sheepshead and mackerel over water too deep for most shore spots nearby.

The bridge reaches into Pensacola Bay from the Pensacola side, near the foot of the current Pensacola Bay Bridge and Wayside Park. The old fee structure let anglers drive on and park beside their gear, but the whole site is closed to the public during demolition and reconstruction, with no pedestrian or vehicle access to the span. Anglers are directed to open bay-front spots on both shores in the meantime.

• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the bottom over deep water
• Spring (Mar-May): Spanish mackerel moving through the bay, white trout on the bottom
• Summer (Jun-Aug): redfish and flounder worked along the pilings
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mixed schools of mackerel and jacks chasing bait past the structure

The bridge's deep water suited bottom rigs with shrimp or cut bait for sheepshead, black drum and flounder, live bait under a float for redfish, and a jig or spoon cast into bait schools for mackerel. Anglers driving out could fish several rod lengths of railing at once, a setup not available at the open beach and seawall spots nearby, where the same baits still take fish from the bank.

Escambia County sits in the Panhandle, where most days bring one modest high and low tide. The bridge fished best on a moving tide pushing bait through the bay, with clean water and light wind; the same tide stage is worth timing a trip to the open spots on either shore around.

The site is closed and fenced during construction, so there is no accessibility to describe for the bridge itself right now. Nearby shore spots vary from paved seawalls to sand beaches; anywhere on the bay, watch for boat traffic, afternoon thunderstorms in summer and slippery footing near the water.

None on site while the bridge is demolished and rebuilt, since the old fee booth, trash barrels and parking areas are all closed with the rest of the span. Pensacola and Gulf Breeze shore spots nearby have varying restrooms and parking, but generally no bait shop at the water's edge, so plan to buy shrimp, cut bait or jigs from a tackle shop in either town before heading out, and bring your own cooler and rod holders since none are provided at the closed bridge or most of the open spots nearby.

• Plaza de Luna on the Pensacola side is the closest open spot to fish while the bridge is closed
• Bob Sikes Fishing Pier, the old Pensacola Beach bridge kept for fishing, is the nearest bridge to fish meanwhile
• Mariners Landing in Gulf Breeze covers the far side of the bay
• Check Escambia County's updates before a trip, since large bridge rebuilds can run behind schedule
• A moving tide mattered more here than time of day, and still does at the open spots nearby

Escambia County manages the bridge and its rebuild. A Florida saltwater fishing license is required at the open spots nearby unless an exemption applies, and shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit. Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.