Nora Patterson Bay Island Park, Siesta Key Fishing

Nora Patterson Bay Island Park is a small bayside park beside the Siesta Drive bridge, with a rebuilt seawall and fishing rails over Sarasota Bay. The county describes it as regularly used for fishing.

• A seawall with fishing rails beside the bridge
• Snapper, sheepshead, redfish and snook around the wall and bridge pilings
• Benches and picnic tables
• Part of the park (the north side) was reported closed after Hurricane Milton

The park is at 946 Siesta Drive, beside the bridge to Siesta Key. The county owns the south side of the road and the city owns the north side.

• The City of Sarasota's website listed the north side as temporarily closed after Hurricane Milton; check the city and the county for the current status before you go
• Parking and hours: not confirmed, so follow the signs
• Our pin is an estimate from the park outline, since the wall is not mapped as a fishing structure

Bay fish gather around the wall and bridge structure.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and seatrout along the wall, snook arriving
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper at the pilings, snook at night near lights
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and snook feed on mullet
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the structure

Light to medium spinning tackle is enough.

• Snapper: small live shrimp on a knocker rig near the wall and pilings
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs on a small hook, dropped straight down
• Snook and redfish: live shrimp or pilchards, or a paddle-tail, close to the wall
• Bridge pilings eat tackle, so use a leader you can afford to lose
• Keep casts clear of boats

Sarasota Bay has two uneven highs and lows on most days; check the nearest NOAA station.

• The bridge pinches the tide, so current is strongest mid-tide
• Early morning is calm and good for snapper
• Slack water is slow
• Clear, dry weather helps
• Strong wind raises chop against the wall

A roadside park by a busy bridge.

• Traffic on the bridge and the road
• Boat wakes and current at the bridge
• A low seawall with a drop to the water; keep children close
• Summer lightning; leave at the first thunder
• Part of the park may be fenced off

The county page lists the basics.

• Benches and picnic tables
• Walking paths
• A small dock on the water
• Restrooms were not confirmed; plan without them
• Lighting and food were not confirmed either, so bring water and snacks
• No bait shop at the park that we could confirm; bring your own bait and a cooler

• Check the city and county sites for the open sections first
• Fish the slower water just off the wall
• Use small shrimp for snapper
• Go early for parking
• Keep your rod tip clear of the bridge
• Look for sheepshead in winter

The seawall park is split between Sarasota County (south of Siesta Drive) and the City of Sarasota (north); the county lists fishing among the park's uses.

• Follow posted signs, closures and hours
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook, redfish and tarpon have special rules; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything