Wabasso Causeway Fishing

Wabasso Causeway is a classic Indian River Lagoon shore spot: an easy-access causeway with county park shoreline on both sides of the water and a high-rise bridge in the middle. It is a relaxed place to fish the lagoon's grass flats and channel edges without a boat.

• Spotted seatrout and redfish on the flats and along the causeway banks.
• Snook, black drum, sheepshead and mangrove snapper around the bridge structure.
• Ladyfish and jacks for fast action on light tackle.
• Room to spread out, with picnic pavilions for a family day.

The causeway runs east from Wabasso on the mainland (US 1) to Orchid Island and State Road A1A, north of Vero Beach.

• Wabasso Causeway Park occupies four lobes of land along the causeway.
• Hours: The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset.
• Parking: At the park lobes, with open parking for boat trailers near the ramp on the south-east lobe.
• Surface: Grassy and sandy banks, some riprap; easy to walk from the car.
• Where to fish: the county lists the park's shoreline and river beaches for fishing and wading; Indian River County parks allow fishing only where it is designated, so follow posted signs.

Lagoon fish are here all year, with the snook and tarpon peaking in the warm months.

• Spring (Mar-May): Spotted seatrout on the grass flats, redfish along the edges, snook moving back onto the bridge shadows, black drum.
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Snook around the bridge at night, mangrove snapper, jacks, ladyfish, small tarpon in the channel.
• Fall (Sep-Nov): Mullet schools bring redfish, snook, jacks and ladyfish; one of the best seasons for trout.
• Winter (Dec-Feb): Sheepshead and black drum around bridge pilings and rubble, trout in deeper channel water on cold days.

Light to medium spinning tackle covers most of what swims here.

• Trout and redfish: 10-15 lb braid with a 20-25 lb fluorocarbon leader; soft plastic jerkbaits or paddletails on a 1/8-1/4 oz jighead, or a live shrimp under a popping cork over the grass.
• Snook: Live pilchards or mullet, or swimbaits worked toward the bridge shadow lines at dawn and dusk; step up to a 30-40 lb leader.
• Sheepshead and black drum: Fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook with a small egg sinker near the bridge pilings and rubble.
• Ladyfish and jacks: Small spoons, jigs and topwater plugs when bait is showering.
• A landing net helps from the causeway banks.

The Indian River Lagoon here is far from any inlet, so the lunar tide is only a few inches: wind and seasonal water levels move the water more than the moon.

• A steady breeze that pushes water along the causeway creates current and fishes better than flat calm.
• Early morning and evening are best in summer; on winter days, fish the warmest part of the afternoon.
• Clear water over the grass is ideal for sight-fishing reds and trout; after heavy rain the lagoon darkens and fish hold deeper.
• The park closes at sunset, so work the bridge shadows from the shoreline at first and last light.

This is one of the easier shore spots in the area, with a few things to watch.

• Traffic: The causeway is a busy road; park only in the lots and never fish from the travel lanes.
• Wading: Shuffle your feet over sand and grass to avoid stingrays; soft mud can hold a foot.
• Weather: Summer afternoon storms bring lightning quickly across open water; get off the shoreline early.
• Boats: Watch for boat traffic at the ramp and in the channel under the bridge.
• Access: Paved parking right beside the water makes it good for older anglers and children; the banks are uneven, so it is not fully wheelchair-accessible.

Wabasso Causeway Park is a county park with basic amenities.

• Restrooms on the south-east lobe and an outdoor shower.
• Nine covered pavilions, picnic tables and grills.
• A boat ramp on the south-east lobe, and river beaches used for launching canoes.
• A drinking fountain.
• No bait shop in the park; buy live shrimp from tackle shops on US 1 or in Vero Beach.
• No lighting for night fishing; the park closes at sunset.

• Fish the side of the causeway the wind is blowing toward: bait and trout stack up on that shoreline.
• Drift a live shrimp under a popping cork along the edge of the grass for trout.
• Bridge shadow lines hold snook; fish toward them from the shoreline early and late, since the park closes at sunset.
• Winter cold snaps push trout and reds into the deeper channel near the bridge.
• Bring polarized sunglasses to spot redfish tailing on calm mornings.
• The park is kid-friendly, with pavilions for shade between bites.

Wabasso Causeway Park is managed by Indian River County Parks; the bridge and roadway are state and county right-of-way.

• Park hours are 7 a.m. to sunset; county parks allow fishing only in areas designated for it, and bar dogs, alcohol and overnight parking.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt.
• Snook and tarpon have their own permit, season and release rules; check FWC.
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.