Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, Miami Beach Fishing

Maurice Gibb Memorial Park is a compact bayfront park in Miami Beach's Sunset Harbor, with city-built fishing piers over Biscayne Bay and one of the better sunsets on the island. The city lists the piers among the park's features but does not publish detailed fishing rules.

• Small city park with fishing piers and a bay overlook
• Light tackle for snapper, snook and jacks
• Calm water among the docks of Sunset Harbor
• A good choice for an evening, not a trophy hunt

The park is at 18th Street and Purdy Avenue in Sunset Harbor, on the bayside of Miami Beach, run by the City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department.

• Walk: from the street the park's paths lead to the piers on the water
• Parking: the city page lists none for the park; street and nearby garage parking in Sunset Harbor is limited, so check signs
• Hours: the city page gives none, so assume daytime park hours and read the signs
• Pin is placed on the mapped pier in the park's waterfront

Small bait and the fish that follow it use the Sunset Harbor docks.

• Spring (Mar-May): jacks, ladyfish and mangrove snapper moving in as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and tarpon around lights at night, snapper under the docks
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook and jacks past the piers
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead near the pilings and the odd seatrout on cooler days

Go light, because boats, pilings and a short pier all work against heavy gear.

• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a light knocker rig beside the pilings
• Snook and jacks: live pilchards or a small swimbait cast along the edge at dusk
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp straight down by the pilings in winter
• Use a fluorocarbon leader of 15 to 20 lb; fish here see a lot of lines
• A small landing net helps, as the deck can be high above the water

Biscayne Bay at Sunset Harbor moves with the tide twice a day, though the current is gentle.

• Moving water is best, either direction
• Evening, after the boat traffic thins, is often best
• Calm, clear days help; heavy rain muddies the bay for a day
• Strong easterly winds push chop against the shore
• Night lights draw bait and fish, where fishing is allowed after dark; check posted hours

This is a public park among boat slips, so keep your casts careful.

• Watch for boat wakes and docking boats
• Keep lines clear of kayakers using the park's launch
• Leave the pier at the first thunder of a summer storm
• Sun and heat are strong; bring water
• The paths are paved and level, though the pier surface and rails may suit some anglers better than others

The city describes the redesigned park but gives few details.

• Fishing piers and a bay overlook
• Shade structures, pavilion and outdoor seating
• Walking paths and a dog park
• A public floating dock and ramp for paddlecraft, as the city describes it
• Restrooms are mapped nearby; no bait shop was confirmed, so bring bait

• Check the signs when you arrive; the city lists no fishing rules for the piers
• Bring your own bait; no shop was confirmed in the park
• Fish on weekday evenings for more room
• Fluorocarbon leaders help in the clear, busy bay water
• Leave space for dog walkers and kayakers using the park
• Do not target sharks; the city bans it from shore and docks

The City of Miami Beach manages the park, and the city's page lists the fishing piers but gives no fishing rules or hours, so read the posted signs.

• Miami Beach bans land-based shark fishing from shore, docks and bridges
• Do not fish where signs prohibit it or in any swimming area
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Tarpon and goliath grouper have release rules; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything