North Lido Beach Fishing

North Lido Beach is the quiet, natural end of Lido Key, kept in its natural state by the City of Sarasota since it acquired the land in 1977.

• Open Gulf beach with a trough and bar to fish.
• Summer snook, cool-season pompano and whiting, and mackerel on the spring and fall runs.
• Sandy trails through pine woods and savannah behind the beach.
• No lifeguards and no pets, which keeps it calm; bring everything you need.

The beach is on Lido Key in Sarasota, at the north end of Ben Franklin Drive near St. Armands Circle and north of the main Lido beach. The county lists it at 50 Benjamin Franklin Drive and the city lists the park at 159 Emerson Drive.

• Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., per the county.
• Parking: not described by either listing; check posted signs and arrive early on busy beach days.
• Sandy trails wind through the pine woods and grassy savannah behind the beach.
• Pets are not allowed, except trained service animals.
• There are protected bird-nesting areas; stay outside any posted areas.

Lido Key's north end fishes to the Sarasota surf calendar.

• Spring (Mar-May): Gulf whiting (Gulf kingfish) and pompano in the trough, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish hitting passing bait, and the season's first snook.
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook working the trough at first light, and jacks and ladyfish pushing bait up against the sand.
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the fall bait run draws mackerel and jacks, redfish cruise the beach, and snook hang on until the first cold front.
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano and whiting on calm, clear days, and slower fishing once a cold front passes.

The beach is reached on foot along sandy paths, so carry only what you need.

• Snook: fish a small swimbait or a white bucktail along the edge of the trough, using a 7-foot spinning rod and 20 lb braid to a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader.
• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook drop rig holding sand fleas or shrimp, cast just beyond the first breaker; on calm, clear days, pompano jigs.
• Mackerel and ladyfish: throw silver spoons or small jigs to the diving birds.
• Redfish: cut bait or a live shrimp on the bottom in the trough, or a gold spoon on calm fall mornings.
• A sand spike and a small shoulder bag lighten the walk.

Lido's tides are mixed, with two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one of each on some, and the range is small, usually under 3 feet; wind and water clarity count as much as the tide.

• Dawn on a rising tide is best, as bait and snook slip into the trough.
• Light east winds calm the Gulf and clear it for sight fishing.
• A strong west wind raises surf and clouds the water; switch to bait on the bottom.
• In summer, fish early and late to stay out of the heat and the afternoon storms.
• In a bad year red tide can halt the fishing; read the FWC red tide status before you go.

This is a natural, unguarded beach.

• No lifeguards: fish and wade with extra care, and never wade out past your knees in surf.
• Rip currents form on rough days; stay in the shallows.
• Stingrays: shuffle your feet when wading.
• Lightning: summer storms build quickly over the Gulf; leave at the first thunder.
• Heat: bring water and shade.
• Accessibility: the sandy trails and soft beach make it hard going for limited mobility.

North Lido is deliberately undeveloped.

• Trails and walking paths through the pine woods and savannah.
• Picnicking areas, per the county listing.
• Restrooms: none listed.
• Lifeguards: none.
• No bait, food or drink on site; nearby St. Armands Circle has shops and restaurants.
• Bring water, sun protection and a small cooler, and carry out everything you carry in; the park is kept in its natural state.

Pointers for North Lido:

• At low tide, walk the beach looking for the deeper cuts in the bar; fish those as the tide comes back in.
• Summer snook are a dawn affair along this beach.
• In spring and fall, watch offshore for diving birds; the mackerel and ladyfish are feeding beneath them.
• For pompano, nothing beats sand fleas: bring them fresh or frozen, and see the posted park rules first if you plan to dig them yourself.
• Keep clear of the posted bird-nesting areas and leave nesting birds plenty of room.

The City of Sarasota runs North Lido Beach Park as a regional park, and the county lists the beach as well.

• Hours are 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., per the county, matching the city's park hours.
• Under city code the Lido Key public beach can stay closed until sunrise during turtle-nesting season, including June 30 to July 10 every year, so check the posted hours before a dawn trip.
• Pets are not allowed, apart from trained service animals.
• Keep out of posted bird-nesting areas.
• Anglers need a Florida saltwater fishing license unless they are exempt.
• FWC has separate seasons and release rules for snook and tarpon; check them before keeping or handling one.
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.