Morgan Park, Belleair Beach Fishing

Morgan Park is a small public beach access on the Gulf side of Belleair Beach, where anglers can reach open surf without a long walk. It is a modest, low-key surf spot rather than a famous one, and fishing here is a matter of reading the beach and the posted signs.

• Open Gulf beach with a sandy bottom and a few troughs
• Whiting and pompano in the cooler months, with mackerel and jacks in warm weather
• Pavilion and restrooms at the access
• Quiet compared with the big beach towns to the north and south

The park is on Gulf Boulevard at Morgan Drive in Belleair Beach, and the City of Belleair Beach runs it as its only public beach park.

• Parking: metered spaces by the park; residents with a city permit park free, and the city sets hourly rates and a time limit, so read the meter or app
• The walk: a short path from the lot to soft sand
• Hours: not confirmed, so follow the posted signs
• Surroundings: private homes line both sides of the beach, so stay on the wet sand and off private property

This is open Gulf surf, so the catch follows the seasons.

• Spring (Mar-May): whiting and pompano move along the trough, with ladyfish and jacks at times
• Summer (Jun-Aug): small sharks and rays after dark, mackerel and jacks when bait schools come in
• Fall (Sep-Nov): whiting, pompano and Spanish mackerel on calm mornings
• Winter (Dec-Feb): slow; expect a few whiting and croaker on cold, clear days

Bring a 7 to 9 foot spinning rod, 10 to 15 lb line and a handful of sinkers from 1 to 4 oz.

• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook fish-finder or pompano rig with small hooks, baited with fresh shrimp or sand fleas bought from a shop
• Pompano also take small jigs in a yellow or white color bounced along the bottom
• Mackerel and jacks: a small spoon or metal lure cast past the break and retrieved fast
• Rays and sharks: heavier tackle and cut bait, but read the local rules first

Tides here are two uneven highs and lows a day; check the NOAA station for Clearwater Beach.

• The hours around a rising tide put fish in the trough close to the sand
• Calm, clear water after a few days of light wind is best
• Dawn and dusk fish better than a hot, crowded midday
• Strong onshore wind and red tide muddy or ruin the surf
• After storms the sand shifts and the troughs move, so look for dark water close in

This is a swim-friendly beach, so share it with care.

• Fish well away from swimmers and keep your hooks and leads out of the swim area
• Rip currents can pull strongly on windy days; never wade out deep
• Shuffle your feet to warn stingrays
• Leave the beach at the first thunder, since summer storms build fast
• Access: a short walk from parking over soft sand; the park has no pier or rail

The park is built for beachgoers rather than anglers.

• Pavilion with a covered picnic area
• Restrooms and outdoor sand-rinse showers
• Metered parking
• No bait shop at the park that we could confirm; buy bait and a drink before you arrive

• Come at sunrise, when parking is easy and the beach is empty
• Buy your bait on the way, and keep it cool in a bucket with a lid
• Walk a little way along the sand to find a trough or a dark patch of deeper water
• Keep gear out of the pavilion and the walkway
• Watch for turtle nests in season and leave marked nests alone

The City of Belleair Beach manages the park, and the city does not list fishing there on any page we could read, so read the posted signs and obey them.

• Parking is metered; residents with a permit are exempt
• Stay out of swim areas and away from private property above the high-tide line
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything