Battery Park Gorrie Fishing Pier

Battery Park Gorrie Fishing Pier is Apalachicola's new waterfront fishing pier, built where the Apalachicola River meets the bay under the John Gorrie Bridge. It replaces a much-loved pier lost to Hurricane Michael in 2018.

• 350 feet of new, accessible pier along the river
• Brackish water where redfish and trout feed
• Sheepshead and black drum on the bridge and marina structure
• Reopened in July 2026, with Battery Park's boat ramps, docks and playground beside it

The pier is at Battery Park, beneath the John Gorrie Bridge (US 98) at the entrance to Apalachicola.

• Getting there: coming into Apalachicola on US 98 from the Eastpoint side, the park is on the river right after you come off the bridge
• Parking: in Battery Park, shared with the boat ramps
• Entry: a city park; check posted signs for any fees
• Surface: a level, ADA-compliant pier with bump-outs for wheelchair users and children
• Check posted park hours

Fresh river water and salty bay water mix here, so the catch changes with the river.

• Spring (Mar–May): redfish and trout as the water warms, sheepshead on the bridge pilings, black drum
• Summer (Jun–Aug): trout at dawn and dusk, redfish, croaker and catfish on the bottom
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the best season: redfish, trout and flounder feeding before winter
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and black drum; trout in the deeper river water

A medium spinning rod with 15 lb braid covers it; bring enough weight for river current.

• Redfish and trout: live shrimp under a cork, or soft plastics along the current edges
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp beside the bridge and dock pilings
• Black drum: shrimp or crab on a Carolina rig on the bottom
• Flounder: finger mullet dragged slowly in fall
• A long-handled net for landing fish from the deck

Tides here are small, about 1 to 2.5 feet; NOAA's Apalachicola station shows two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, and the river's flow often matters more.

• An incoming tide pushes saltier bay water up to the pier and usually fishes best
• After heavy rain upriver, the water freshens and saltwater fish move out toward the bay
• Dry spells let salt water creep upriver and bring more redfish and trout
• Early morning and evening are best in summer
• Winter fish feed in the afternoon warmth

The new pier was built to ADA standards.

• ADA-compliant deck with bump-outs for wheelchairs and children
• The river current is strong; keep children back from the edge
• Watch for boats at the ramps and marina
• Leave the pier when thunderstorms build
• If the proposed second phase along the marina goes ahead (it was expected to start in fall 2026), expect construction nearby

The pier sits in the city's busiest waterfront park.

• Battery Park has boat ramps, docks, a marina, a playground and a community center
• Could not confirm restrooms or lights on the pier; check when you visit
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you
• Bring ice and water; downtown Apalachicola is a short walk for food and drinks

• Watch the river: a few dry weeks bring saltier water and better fishing
• The bridge pilings hold sheepshead from late winter
• Gulf sturgeon sometimes pass the pier; admire them and never target them
• The annual Florida Seafood Festival is held in Battery Park; expect crowds then
• Fish early before the heat and the boat traffic
• Walk the downtown waterfront afterward; it is a short stroll

The City of Apalachicola runs Battery Park; the pier was rebuilt with Franklin County Tourist Development Council funds. Posted rules apply.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; freshwater species upriver need a freshwater license
• Gulf sturgeon are protected: release any sturgeon at once
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything