Fred Howard Park Fishing

Fred Howard Park is a 155-acre county park whose causeway crosses a mile of shallow grass flats to a white sand beach island on the Gulf. The county's map shows fishing along the causeway and at the ends of the island, which makes it the easiest place in north Pinellas to cast over the flats from shore.

• Designated fishing along the causeway between its two bridges
• The north and south ends of the beach island, outside the swimming area
• Clear, shallow water ideal for sight-fishing
• Open 7 a.m. to sunset with paid parking

The park is on the Gulf shore of Tarpon Springs at the west end of Sunset Drive (1700 Sunset Drive).

• Getting there: from US 19 in Tarpon Springs head west to Sunset Drive and follow it to the park
• Parking: pay-by-plate stations; the $6 daily beach parking fee becomes $3.50 an hour, capped at $12 a day, from December 1, 2026, and annual passes are sold
• Where to fish: the county's park map shows fishing on both sides of the causeway between its two small bridges and at the north and south ends of the beach island
• The walk: park only in marked lots and walk to the fishing areas; the causeway carries cars and bikes
• Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset daily; county parks close the day after Thanksgiving and December 25

The flats fish best from fall through spring; the island ends add summer pelagics.

• Spring (Mar–May): seatrout and redfish over the grass, cobia and Spanish mackerel passing the island, sheepshead late in their run
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook along the causeway edges and island ends early in the day, ladyfish and jacks, mangrove snapper near rocks
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish schools, big trout, flounder moving along the sand
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the rocks, trout in the deeper holes on warm afternoons

Light spinning gear is all you need; a longer rod helps you reach the grass from shore.

• Trout and redfish: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a paddle-tail soft plastic on a 1/8 oz jig head, cast to sand holes in the grass
• Snook: a small white jig or live pilchard worked along the causeway edges early in the morning
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on the bottom near rocks
• Spanish mackerel: small spoons thrown from the island ends when birds are working
• A 20 lb fluorocarbon leader is plenty for most fish here

Tides here are mixed: most days bring two highs and two lows of unequal size, and some days only one of each. NOAA's Howard Park Causeway station predicts a range of about 3 feet on a typical day, enough to flood and drain the flats.

• The first half of the incoming tide pushes fish up onto the grass along the causeway
• Very low winter tides empty the flats; fish the deeper edges
• Calm, sunny mornings are best for sight-fishing
• A strong west wind makes the water murky; fish the sheltered side of the causeway
• Summer mornings before the heat and storms fish best

A family-friendly park with a few cautions.

• Stay on the shore: county rules allow wading only in designated areas, and fishing is not allowed in the swimming area
• Watch for cars and bikes when fishing along the causeway road
• Leave at the first sign of lightning
• There is little shade on the causeway; bring water and sun protection
• Stingrays and oyster shell on the flats are another reason to fish from the bank
• Access: the causeway puts the water a few steps from the road; check the footing before you set up

Fred Howard Park is well equipped.

• Six restrooms around the park and beach showers
• Nine picnic shelters, two playgrounds and a ball field
• White sand beach with a swimming area and a windsurfing area
• Kayak and canoe launching area and a canoe trail
• No bait shop in the park; bait and tackle shops are in Tarpon Springs, so bring shrimp with you
• Shade is limited to the shelters and a few trees near the lots

• Arrive early on weekends; the beach lots fill fast in summer and the park closes at sunset
• Look for sand holes in the grass from the causeway on a falling tide; trout and reds wait in them
• Winter sheepshead hang around the rocks at the island ends
• Fish the north side of the causeway on a light south wind for cleaner water
• Watch for manatees and dolphins; they share the flats with you
• Special events such as the Tarpon Springs triathlon can close the park in the morning, so check the county's Know Before You Go page

Fred Howard Park is run by Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources.

• Park hours are 7 a.m. to sunset; follow posted park rules
• County code allows fishing only in designated areas and never from a beach area designated for swimming: here that means the causeway and the island ends marked for fishing on the county's park map
• Wading is allowed only in designated areas
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Snook and redfish have their own rules; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything