Anclote Key Preserve State Park Fishing

Anclote Key Preserve State Park gives shore anglers miles of empty Gulf beach and clear grass flats, at the price of a boat ride. Florida State Parks calls the fishing outstanding throughout the park.

• Four islands, reached only by private boat or by ferry from Tarpon Springs or New Port Richey
• Snook, spotted seatrout, redfish and sharks named by the park
• Surf on the Gulf side, grass flats on the bay side
• An 1887 lighthouse near the south end of Anclote Key, opened for climbing only at volunteer-run open houses

The park lies about three miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs and takes in Anclote Key, North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar and Three Rooker Island.

• Getting there: by private boat, or by one of the ferry and charter services Florida State Parks lists, some leaving from the historic Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs
• Ferries do not drop off visitors for overnight camping, so ferry passengers visit for the day
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, every day of the year; no fee
• The pin is on the Gulf beach west of the lighthouse; the park calls the fishing outstanding throughout, but keep out of closed and nesting areas
• The park's dock and boardwalk have been closed for storm recovery since October 2024, so expect to step ashore on the beach
• Bring everything you need; nothing is sold on the islands

The islands sit on clear, grassy Gulf water, so both surf and flats fish are close at hand.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and Spanish mackerel along the beach, redfish and trout on the flats, cobia passing offshore
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook in the surf trough, tarpon rolling off the islands, blacktip sharks, mangrove snapper
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish schooling on the flats, trout and pompano, Spanish mackerel on the bait
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and trout on calm days; cold fronts slow the fishing

Travel light but carry enough rod for a snook or a shark.

• A 7 to 8-foot medium spinning rod with 15-20 lb braid and a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Walk the beach early in the day and cast a white jig or paddle-tail parallel to the shore for snook
• A shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic, over the bay-side grass for trout and redfish
• Pompano jigs, or shrimp or sand fleas brought from the mainland, on a double-drop rig in the surf in spring and fall
• Small silver spoons for Spanish mackerel when birds are diving
• Shark fishing from shore needs the free FWC permit and heavier gear

NOAA's Anclote Key station at the south end shows two high and two low tides on most days, one pair bigger than the other, with a daily range of roughly 2 to 5 feet.

• Fish the moving tide; the flats drain and fill fast
• Low tide exposes wide bars and flats on the bay side; wade carefully and watch the returning water
• Calm, clear mornings are best for sight-fishing snook and redfish
• Strong west winds make the Gulf beach rough and the boat ride wet
• Check the marine forecast and your ferry's schedule before you go

Anclote Key is remote, with no lifeguards and no services.

• Bring plenty of water, food, sun protection and shade; nothing is available on the islands
• Swimming is at your own risk; watch the beach warning flags
• Summer thunderstorms build fast over the Gulf; plan to be off the beach when they arrive
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays and give sharks room
• The beaches are soft sand with no paved paths; not suited to wheelchairs
• Keep an eye on the time so you do not miss your ferry

Facilities are basic.

• The park lists two compostable toilets on Anclote Key, at the north end and near the lighthouse compound, but the lighthouse volunteers say there is no public restroom, so do not count on them
• Primitive camping at the north end of Anclote Key for visitors with their own boat
• No drinking water, food, bait or tackle on the islands
• The lighthouse opens for climbing only at the Friends of Anclote Key's open houses, one weekend a month from October to May
• Visitors may bring a grill for a beach picnic, as the park suggests

• Take the earliest boat you can; the park opens at 8 a.m. and the morning is usually the best time on the beach
• Pack a wading belt with a few jigs, a cork rig and pliers rather than a heavy tackle box
• Look for snook just off the sand in the first trough on calm summer mornings
• On the bay side, fish the edges of sand holes in the grass for trout and redfish
• Leave nesting birds alone; part of Three Rooker Island's beach closes in the nesting season

Anclote Key Preserve State Park is run by Florida State Parks.

• Open 8 a.m. to sunset; no fee
• Pets are not allowed on Anclote Key; they are allowed only on North Anclote Bar, on a leash
• An 1,800-foot section of Three Rooker Island's beach is closed from May 1 to August 1 for nesting birds
• The dock, boardwalk and lighthouse are closed for storm recovery under a park notice of Oct. 2024; avoid closed areas
• Bring all your bait: digging for it or taking live animals in the park is not allowed
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit; snook and tarpon have their own rules, so check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything