Ernest and Eloise Werlin Park Seawall, Sarasota Fishing

Ernest and Eloise Werlin Park Seawall is a city park shoreline beneath the Ringling Bridge, a short walk from downtown Sarasota. With the Saprito Pier closed, the seawall is the way to fish this corner of Sarasota Bay.

• A seawall on Sarasota Bay, next to the bridge shadows
• Snook, redfish, seatrout, jacks and mangrove snapper
• Tarpon use the bridge area in season
• The Saprito Pier is closed, and Hart's Landing has been torn down

The park is at 420 John Ringling Causeway in Sarasota, just before the Ringling Bridge as you leave downtown. The City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation Department runs it.

• Park in the lots at the park or along the causeway approach, and follow the posted signs
• The seawall runs along the park's waterfront on the bay side
• The surface is flat, and the walk from the lot is short
• The Tony Saprito Pier is closed for rebuilding, so skip it; the seawall is open as far as the city has published
• Check the city before you go, because causeway work runs into 2027

Sarasota Bay's grass flats and the bridge pilings hold fish in every season.

• Spring (Mar-May): seatrout and jacks on the flats edge, with snook and the first tarpon
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and tarpon around the bridge shade, mangrove snapper on the shells and rocks
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and snook feeding on mullet, with ladyfish and jacks
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead on the structure, seatrout and the odd black drum

Fish the seawall edge and the bridge shadow lines with live bait first.

• Live shrimp or pilchards on a 2/0 hook with a 20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for snook and redfish
• A shrimp under a float or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig for seatrout
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp near the pilings for sheepshead
• Swimbaits and topwater plugs at dawn along the wall
• Cast net bait in the early hours if the water is clear and no sign forbids it

Sarasota Bay has two uneven highs and lows on most days; use the nearest NOAA station for exact times.

• Moving tide is best; the current pulls bait along the seawall and under the bridge
• Dawn, dusk and the lights of the evening draw snook
• Clear water after a few calm days helps seatrout
• Heavy rain can cloud the water for a day or two
• A strong easterly wind can blow into the seawall

This is a city park with easy access, but it is also a busy spot at the base of a causeway.

• Traffic overhead is loud; the bridge deck is not a place to fish from
• Keep lines clear of boats and paddlers using the bay
• The seawall edge can be slippery and has no rail in places, so keep children back
• Summer lightning is the main hazard; go back to your car at the first thunder
• Roadwork on the causeway can change parking, so allow time

The park is set up for families.

• Restrooms and a playground, per the city and Visit Sarasota listings
• Walking trails, shade structures and a gazebo
• The Hart's Landing bait shop is gone; the city plans to rebuild it, so buy bait before you arrive
• No lights for night fishing that we could confirm
• Benches along the park's waterfront

• Buy bait before you arrive; Hart's Landing is gone and the city is still reviewing a rebuild
• Fish the seawall at first light, when snook and redfish cruise the edge
• Work the shade line under the bridge approach for snook
• Check the City of Sarasota website for pier and park status before a long drive
• Weekends bring boaters and strollers; weekday mornings are quiet
• Bring a net; fish are hard to lift from a seawall

The City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation Department manages Werlin Park.

• The seawall is a listed fishing spot, but the Tony Saprito Pier and the old Hart's Landing docks are not open
• Follow any posted park rules and closures
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook, redfish and tarpon have their own rules; check FWC for each
• Check current FWC rules at myfwc.com for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything