Manasota Beach Park Fishing

Manasota Beach Park is a quiet Gulf beach with bay access behind it, and part of the land-based shark stretch between Venice and Englewood.

• Surf sharks on summer evenings, snook in the trough by day
• Pompano and Gulf whiting in the cooler months
• Lemon Bay on the other side of the park for trout and reds
• County park with a lifeguard, restrooms, picnic shelters and a free boat ramp

The park is at 8570 Manasota Key Road, reached from Manasota Beach Road off State Road 776 near Englewood.

• Parking: lots on site; no fee is listed for the park, and the state's ramp inventory lists the boat ramp and kayak access as free
• Hours: the ramp is listed 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and county code closes county park lots to vehicles from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless signs say otherwise
• Beach: a short walk from the lot to the Gulf; the lifeguard stand and swimming area are by the main boardwalk, so walk north or south along the sand to fish
• Bay side: the boat ramp and kayak access face Lemon Bay
• Surface: soft sand on the Gulf side

The surf and the bay offer different fish.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting in the trough, Spanish mackerel and bluefish passing, snook moving onto the beach
• Summer (Jun-Aug): blacktip and other sharks in the evening, snook at first light, ladyfish and jacks
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mackerel with the bait, redfish and trout in Lemon Bay, sharks still active early
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano and whiting on warm days, sheepshead and black drum in the bay

Bring a surf rod and a light spinning rod.

• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook drop rig with sand fleas, shrimp or scented strips, 2 to 4 oz pyramid sinker on a 9 to 11 foot rod
• Snook: white bucktails or live shrimp cast along the trough at dawn
• Sharks: cut ladyfish or mullet on a wire leader and non-stainless circle hook, heavy tackle, a cutting tool, the FWC permit, and no chumming from the beach
• Bay trout and reds: shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic on a 1/8 oz jighead
• Mackerel: small spoons on a short wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader

Tides here are mixed and small: NOAA's nearby stations show two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, with a range of a foot or two.

• The rising tide into the first trough is the best time for pompano and snook
• Sharks feed toward dusk and on the evening tide change in summer; finish before the 10 p.m. lot closure
• Calm, clear water is best for snook; a little surf helps pompano
• Strong west winds make the surf unfishable; move to the Lemon Bay side
• Check the state red tide map in late summer and fall

A lifeguarded county beach with the usual Gulf hazards.

• County code bans fishing inside swim areas marked by buoys; set up well away from the lifeguard stand and anyone in the water
• Rip currents can form, especially after storms; do not wade deep
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays
• Land sharks quickly and release them in the water; keep people clear
• Lightning is the main summer danger
• Soft sand makes the beach hard going for wheelchairs; the county lends beach wheelchairs through the lifeguards

The county lists these amenities.

• Restrooms
• Lifeguard
• Picnic shelters and grills
• Boat ramp and kayak access on Lemon Bay
• Beach wheelchairs at no cost, through the lifeguards
• Bait and tackle are sold in Englewood and Venice
• Bring a sand spike, a cooler with ice and a cart; the walk from the lot to the surf is short but on soft sand

• Summer shark fishing is best on calm evenings; plan to be off the beach and out of the lot by 10 p.m.
• A few days of east wind flattens the Gulf and clears the water for snook
• Fish the bay side when the surf is blown out
• Pompano show up in the troughs from December to April; sand fleas or shrimp from a bait shop both work
• Walk a few hundred feet from the lifeguard stand before you set up, and move farther if swimmers spread out
• Check the state red tide status before a long drive

Manasota Beach Park is a Sarasota County park; follow posted park rules.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt (residents can use the free shoreline license)
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit, chumming from the beach is illegal, and prohibited sharks must stay in the water
• County code bans fishing inside buoyed swim areas, glass containers and dogs outside designated areas
• County lots close to vehicles from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless posted otherwise
• Sea turtles nest here in summer; keep lights low at night
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything