Fishing spots in Levy County

Levy County's coast runs from the Suwannee River mouth south past the island town of Cedar Key to the Withlacoochee River at Yankeetown, and it is the Big Bend at its most beautiful: scattered keys, oyster reefs, clam leases, grass flats and huge marshes, much of them protected in Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys national wildlife refuges and Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park. Cedar Key is the obvious base for shore anglers, with a big public pier in town and quieter refuge fishing nearby at Shell Mound. Redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead and black drum are the staples, with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and mangrove snapper in the warm months. Cedar Key was flooded by Idalia in 2023 and Helene in 2024 and is still rebuilding, but its pier reopened in 2025 and the town is welcoming visitors back.

Cedar Key

• Character: an Old Florida island town surrounded by channels, oyster bars and small keys
• What it suits: pier fishing for sheepshead, trout, redfish, drum and summer mackerel; wading the flats
• Access: the free City Pier at Dock Street and C Street (dawn to dusk), plus public waterfront around town

Shell Mound and the Lower Suwannee refuge

• Character: quiet marsh, tidal creeks and a huge ancient shell mound, north of Cedar Key
• What it suits: redfish and trout on the tide from a small accessible pier; kayak fishing
• Access: the Shell Mound Pier at the end of CR 326, no entrance fee, sunrise to sunset

SR 24 bridges and the Number 4 Channel

• Character: the causeway into Cedar Key crosses several tidal channels
• What it suits: redfish, trout and sheepshead on moving water
• Access: the No. 4 Bridge area has a public boat ramp and a small fishing pier, which was closed for safety after Helene; check whether it has reopened

Yankeetown and the Withlacoochee River

• Character: the county's southern river mouth, near the Cross Florida Barge Canal
• What it suits: redfish, trout and snook in the river mouth
• Access: mostly by boat and kayak, with some public river access

Season	Likely species (shore)	Notes
Spring (Mar–May)	Sheepshead, spotted seatrout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, cobia (occasional)	Sheepshead peak on pier pilings
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, redfish, catfish	Fish early; afternoon storms
Fall (Sep–Nov)	Spotted seatrout, redfish, flounder, black drum	The best mixed-bag season
Winter (Dec–Feb)	Sheepshead, black drum, trout on warm afternoons	North winds pull tides very low

• Two rods on a pier: a 7-foot medium-light for casting and a medium rod with 20 lb braid and 25–30 lb leader for pilings
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook for sheepshead
• Carolina rig with cut mullet or crab for redfish and drum
• Popping cork and shrimp, or soft plastics on 1/8–1/4 oz heads, for trout
• Silver spoons and small jigs for Spanish mackerel
• A pier net or drop net for the City Pier

• Cedar Key has mixed tides with a noticeable range; current runs hard through the channels
• The first half of the incoming tide is usually best at the piers
• A falling tide pulls bait out of the marsh creeks at Shell Mound and concentrates redfish
• Winter cold fronts with north winds can leave very low water
• The Suwannee and Withlacoochee run dark after heavy rain, pushing salt water and fish seaward

• The Cedar Key City Pier and the Shell Mound Pier are both accessible and level
• Summer thunderstorms and lightning; leave piers at the first thunder
• Oyster bars and soft mud if you wade
• Remote refuge areas have limited phone signal and close at sunset
• The town is still rebuilding; some businesses remain closed after 2023 and 2024
• Mosquitoes and biting flies are intense in warm months

• Buy bait in Cedar Key before heading to Shell Mound; the refuge sells nothing
• Sheepshead on the City Pier is a finesse game: feel for the light nibble and strike fast
• Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends and festival days
• The end of the City Pier sees the most current
• Check pier status before driving out; both piers have closed for storm repairs since 2024
• Look for manatees and dolphins in summer, and bring binoculars for the birds on the keys
• Stay for the sunset at Shell Mound, but remember the refuge closes at sunset

• Dixie County – north across the Suwannee River: Suwannee and Horseshoe Beach
• Citrus County – south across the Withlacoochee and the barge canal: Crystal River and Homosassa

• Do I need a fishing license to fish from shore here?
  • Yes, a Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt. Check the current license rules and exemptions with FWC (myfwc.com) before you go.
• Is the Cedar Key fishing pier open?
  • Yes. Helene cut the pier off from land in 2024; its access was rebuilt and it reopened in 2025. Entry is free and the city lists it as open dawn to dusk.
• Where else can I fish from shore near Cedar Key?
  • The Shell Mound Pier in Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, which reopened after repairs in October 2025.
• What is the best bait for sheepshead here?
  • Fiddler crabs or live shrimp on a small, strong hook, fished right beside the pilings.
• When is the best time to visit?
  • Fall for the widest variety; late winter and spring for sheepshead.

Area	Coast character & access	Best species	Prime season	Go-to methods	Key safety notes	Facilities
Cedar Key City Pier	Big public pier over channels; free	Sheepshead, trout, redfish, drum	Spring, fall	Fiddlers, cork and shrimp, cut bait	Lightning, busy deck	Town restaurants, shops, restrooms nearby
Shell Mound	Refuge marsh and accessible pier; free	Redfish, trout, sheepshead	Fall	Cut mullet, cork and shrimp	Remote, insects, closes at sunset	Restrooms, trails
SR 24 bridges / No. 4 Channel	Tidal channels on the causeway	Redfish, trout, sheepshead	Fall, spring	Live shrimp, soft plastics	Traffic, closures after storms	Boat ramp
Yankeetown	River mouth and marsh; mostly boat	Redfish, trout, snook	Fall	Soft plastics, live bait	Boat traffic, tides	Limited