Pass-a-Grille Jetty Fishing

Pass-a-Grille Jetty sits at land's end on St. Pete Beach, where the historic Pass-a-Grille district meets Pass-a-Grille Channel. It is a small jetty with a big reputation for snook.

• Tide through the channel sweeps bait past the rocks on every tide.
• Snook, sheepshead, snapper, reds, pompano and mackerel within one short walk.
• A beautiful old-Florida setting with cafés and the Merry Pier a few blocks away.
• The bay-side Merry Pier's historic bait shop was wrecked by Hurricane Helene; anglers still fish the pier, but do not count on buying bait there.

The jetty is at the southern tip of Pass-a-Grille, at the end of Gulf Way near 1st Avenue in St. Pete Beach.

• Getting there: follow Gulf Boulevard south through St. Pete Beach onto Pass-a-Grille Way or Gulf Way to the end of the island.
• Parking: pay-by-plate public spaces along Gulf Way and Pass-a-Grille Way, paid at pay stations or by app; they fill quickly on sunny weekends.
• The walk: a short beach path from the end of Gulf Way to the jetty.
• Surface: a concrete walkway runs along the top of the jetty to a small platform at the end; the rocks either side are uneven.
• Nearby: the Pass-a-Grille dog beach is on the bay side of the tip.
• Coming work: the Army Corps of Engineers plans to dredge the pass and pump the sand onto the beach just north of it, with a contract expected in early 2027.

A channel-mouth spot that peaks in the warm months.

• Spring (Mar–May): sheepshead finishing, Spanish mackerel and pompano arriving, snook moving onto the beach.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook on the rocks and beach, mangrove snapper at dusk, tarpon rolling in the channel.
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish along the beach, mackerel and pompano again, flounder starting.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and small grouper around the rocks, quieter surf fishing between fronts.

Medium spinning gear with 30–40 lb leader for snook and snapper.

• Snook: live whitebait or pinfish on a 1/0–2/0 circle hook, free-lined along the rocks; or a 1/2 oz white bucktail swung with the tide.
• Sheepshead and snapper: a 1/0 hook on a short fluorocarbon leader with a 1/2 oz egg sinker, dropped into the rocks.
• Pompano: a pompano jig or a two-hook rig with sand fleas in the troughs.
• Mackerel: small spoons or Gotcha plugs where birds are working.
• Lose fewer rigs by fishing the downstream side and keeping baits moving.

Tides here are mixed: most days bring two uneven highs and lows and some days only one, with a typical range of about 2 feet, but the channel runs hard on a big tide.

• Best: the outgoing tide at dawn or dusk for snook; the incoming for clean water and mackerel.
• Slack water is the time to drop baits into the rocks for sheepshead.
• Wind: light east winds keep the surf flat and clear; strong west winds send waves over the rocks.
• Water: clear green water is best; heavy summer rain darkens the channel.

A narrow concrete walkway over rock, better for sure-footed anglers.

• Footing: the rocks beside the walkway are slippery when wet; wear shoes with grip and stay off weed-covered rock.
• Current: the channel runs fast, and the city bans swimming, skin diving and wading off the tip; never go in after a snag.
• Boats: steady boat and personal-watercraft traffic in the channel.
• Lightning: summer afternoon storms; get off the jetty early.
• Access: the walkway itself is level concrete, but check the approach across the sand before bringing a wheelchair.

Few facilities on the jetty; more in the neighborhood.

• Restrooms: public restrooms are along Gulf Way to the north; check which are open.
• Food: cafés and restaurants on 8th Avenue and Gulf Way.
• Bait: the Merry Pier bait shop on the bay side has been closed since Hurricane Helene and was still shut in mid-2026; bring bait with you.
• Lights: none dedicated to fishing.

• Arrive at first light on an outgoing tide in summer for the best snook shot.
• Pay at a pay station or by app before you walk down; parking is enforced.
• Walk the beach north of the jetty at dawn and look for snook in the first trough before fishing the rocks.
• Bring a long-handled net; lifting fish up onto the jetty breaks lines.
• Keep casts clear of swimmers on the beach side in summer.
• Try the Merry Pier on the bay side when wind makes the Gulf side rough.

The jetty and Pass-a-Grille beach are in the City of St. Pete Beach; the FWC lists the Pass-a-Grille Fishing Jetty among the area's public fishing piers.

• City code bans swimming, skin diving and wading in the Gulf and bay waters off the southern tip, from just north of First Avenue around to the bay seawall.
• Follow posted rules about fishing near swimmers and on the beach.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt.
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit, and snook and tarpon have specific FWC rules and release requirements.
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.