Green Bridge Fishing Pier

Green Bridge Fishing Pier is what remains of the old Green Bridge between Palmetto and Bradenton, kept as a public fishing pier beside the modern bridge over the Manatee River.

• A long pier over tidal river water a few miles above Tampa Bay.
• Old bridge pilings concentrate snook, reds, sheepshead and drum.
• Run by the City of Palmetto as part of Riverside Park West, which city code keeps open around the clock.
• The Bradenton Riverwalk lies across the river.

The pier runs south into the river from Riverside Park West on the Palmetto waterfront, on the west side of the US 41 Business Green Bridge.

• Getting there: in Palmetto, head for Riverside Drive at the north end of the Green Bridge.
• Parking: the Riverside Park West lot, which it shares with the busy city boat ramp.
• Fee: none is listed for fishing.
• Hours: city code keeps Riverside Park East and West open 24 hours.
• Surface: the wide, level concrete deck of the old roadway, about 2,000 feet long.

Brackish-water fishing that changes with salinity and season.

• Spring (Mar–May): sheepshead finishing, trout on the channel edges, snook moving up the river.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook around the pilings, mangrove snapper, ladyfish and jacks, tarpon rolling in the channel.
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish up the river, snook feeding before winter, trout returning.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the pilings; snook shelter in the river on cold snaps (look, do not target them in a freeze).

Medium spinning gear with 15–20 lb line and a 25–30 lb leader.

• Snook: live shrimp or whitebait on a 1/0 circle hook, free-lined along the pilings on the outgoing tide.
• Sheepshead and drum: a 1/0 hook with a 1/2–1 oz egg sinker and fiddler crab, shrimp or crab pieces, dropped straight down.
• Reds: cut mullet on a fish-finder rig on the bottom.
• Trout: small jigs tipped with shrimp worked along the channel edge.
• Landing: a drop net is useful for lifting big fish to the deck.

The lower Manatee River has two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some; the NOAA Bradenton station shows a daily range of about 2 feet, and river flow adds current after rain.

• Best: the outgoing tide in the evening, when bait washes past the pilings.
• The incoming brings saltier, clearer water and trout and reds up the river.
• Rain: heavy summer rain freshens and muddies the river and slows the bite.
• Wind: fairly sheltered compared with the open bay.

One of the easier piers in the area to walk and fish.

• The deck is wide and level, easy going with a cart.
• Lightning: summer storms roll up the river quickly; leave early.
• Heat: little shade on the deck.
• Catfish and stingrays: handle hardheads with care.
• At night: bring a headlamp; gear left on the deck is a trip hazard.

Basic facilities at Riverside Park West.

• Restrooms and a pavilion at the park.
• The city boat ramp next to the pier.
• Bait: none on site; buy bait before you arrive.
• Food: none on the pier; downtown Palmetto is a short drive.
• Lighting: not listed by the city, so bring a light for evening sessions.
• Shade: only at the park pavilion; none on the deck.

• Evenings on an outgoing tide are a local favorite.
• Fish the pilings near the far end for sheepshead in February and March.
• Bring a drop net; the deck is well above the water.
• After heavy rain, the river runs brown and slow; try again once it clears.
• The boat-ramp lot fills on weekends; arrive early.
• The city sometimes rents the pier for events, so check before planning around a holiday.

The pier and Riverside Park West are run by the City of Palmetto.

• City code keeps the park open 24 hours and bans alcohol in city parks without a permit; pets must be leashed.
• Obey any posted pier rules and closures.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt.
• Snook and tarpon have specific FWC rules and release requirements; shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit.
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.