Riverview Park, Sebastian Fishing

Riverview Park, Sebastian is the city's central riverfront park, and its two long piers put anglers well out over the Indian River Lagoon.

• Twin piers that the city describes as for river watching or fishing
• Seatrout, redfish and snook, with sheepshead in winter and snapper in summer
• Restrooms, pavilions, a playground and a splash pad for the family
• Scenic walkways start at the park and follow the riverfront

The park is at 600 US Highway 1, on the corner of US 1 and County Road 512 (Sebastian Boulevard), right on the lagoon in Sebastian's riverfront district.

• The twin piers start at the park's shoreline and run straight out into the lagoon
• Parking: the city's page does not detail it; follow posted signs, and expect spaces to fill during festivals
• Hours: not confirmed; check the posted park hours before a dawn or night trip
• Scenic walkways start at the park and follow the shore through the riverfront district

A mixed lagoon fishery with something biting in every season.

• Spring (Mar-May): spotted seatrout and redfish on the grass edges, black drum, snook returning to the shallows
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper around the pilings, snook at dawn, ladyfish and jacks chasing bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, redfish, crevalle jacks and tarpon through the lagoon
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the pilings, seatrout in deeper water

Medium-light spinning tackle with 15 lb braid and a 20 to 30 lb leader handles most fish; step up for snook near the pilings.

• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a paddle-tail on a 1/4 oz jig head cast off the pier ends
• Snook and redfish: live pilchards or finger mullet, or shrimp on a Carolina rig
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook straight down beside the pilings
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a light knocker rig
• Bring a long-handled landing net; hauling good fish up onto the deck by the line loses them

Sebastian Inlet feeds this part of the lagoon, but the lunar tide at the park is small and the wind often moves more water.

• Fish moving water, from the tide or a steady breeze
• Dawn and dusk are best in summer, when midday heat shuts the bite down
• Clear water on calm days is ideal for seatrout on the grass
• After heavy rain, dark water favors live bait over lures
• Winter cold fronts push sheepshead and drum toward the pilings

A family-friendly city park with plenty of company.

• Summer afternoon lightning over the lagoon; get off the piers at the first thunder
• Heat and sun on the open piers; bring water and a hat
• Manatees and dolphins pass by; never snag, feed or disturb them
• Keep hooks and cast nets clear of walkers and children on the piers
• Festivals bring crowds; fish early on event days or pick another day
• The park's walkways lead to the piers, but pier accessibility for wheelchairs is not confirmed; check before you go

Riverview Park is well equipped for a family outing.

• Restrooms in the park
• Picnic pavilions, picnic tables and a playground
• A splash pad and sand volleyball courts
• The Veterans' War Memorial
• No bait shop in the park; buy shrimp at tackle shops in Sebastian before you arrive
• The city plans pier upgrades as part of a park renovation, with construction tentatively scheduled for late 2027 into 2028

• The outer ends of the piers reach the most open water and usually fish best
• Watch for mullet schools in the fall; snook and tarpon are rarely far behind
• In winter, fish right against the pilings for sheepshead and set the hook on the lightest tap
• Check the city's event calendar; festival days fill the park and the piers
• A cooler of live shrimp outfishes lures on slow, windless days

Riverview Park is a City of Sebastian park; follow the posted park rules.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Keeping a snook also requires a snook permit
• The FWC's Indian River Lagoon region has release rules for redfish; check FWC before you fish
• Tarpon have their own FWC release rules; check them before you handle one
• Manatees are protected by state and federal law
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything