George R. Kennedy Memorial Park, Edgewater Fishing

George R. Kennedy Memorial Park is Edgewater's busiest public access to the lagoon, with a fishing pier and gazebo beside four boat ramps.

• Fishing pier with a gazebo on the lagoon shore
• Trout, redfish, black drum and sheepshead
• Busy ramps, so fish when boats are few
• Pier and seawall have been through storm repairs

The park is at 103 North Riverside Drive in Edgewater, across from City Hall, on the shore of the northern Mosquito Lagoon. The City of Edgewater runs it, and a separate kayak ramp sits on an adjacent canal.

• The boat ramps are free to use and open around the clock, per the state's ramp listing
• Parking is lot parking for cars and trailers; one listing counts 39 spaces
• Surface: paved lot and paths to the pier and seawall
• Menard-May Park, the city's other pier park, is a short drive south

This is classic Mosquito Lagoon water, with fish following the seasons.

• Spring (Mar-May): trout and redfish on the grass, black drum near the shell
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper, jacks and ladyfish; early starts avoid the ramp traffic
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and trout as mullet move through; small bonnethead sharks sometimes cruise the edges
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum at the pilings and seawall

Fish light and keep your lines clear of the ramps.

• Spinning gear with 8 to 12 lb line and a 20 lb leader
• Live shrimp under a cork or on a jig head for trout and redfish
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp down the pilings and along the seawall for sheepshead
• Gold spoons and soft plastics along the grass edge
• Cut shrimp on the bottom for black drum
• Buy bait before you arrive; no bait shop is confirmed here

Water level in the lagoon is mostly wind-driven, with little tide.

• Calm, clear mornings are best
• A steady breeze moves bait along the seawall
• Strong west winds cloud the water
• Cold fronts slow the bite, then sheepshead feed in the cool
• Early and late light beat the midday glare

This is a working boat-ramp park, so alertness pays.

• Keep lines away from the ramps when boats launch or load
• Boat wakes slap the seawall; keep tackle secure
• Check posted signs for closed sections of the pier or seawall
• Wet boards and algae are slick
• Summer lightning is a danger; leave the water early
• Access: paved lot and paths; rails and ramps on the pier are not confirmed

The park is built around boating and family use.

• Four boat ramps and a kayak ramp
• Fishing pier with a gazebo and a pavilion
• Restrooms
• Picnic tables and nature trails
• No bait shop confirmed at the park
• Lights and cleaning stations not confirmed

• Fish the pier on weekday mornings; weekends crowd the ramps
• Keep your cast away from the ramp lanes
• Fiddler crabs beat shrimp for sheepshead in winter
• Look for tailing redfish along the nearby shoreline on calm days
• Check the city's page for notices about ramp or pier closures
• Menard-May Park gives you a second option nearby

The City of Edgewater manages the park.

• The visitor bureau lists a fishing pier with a gazebo, but the pier's condition after storm damage is unconfirmed, so read the posted signs
• The boat ramps are listed as free
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check FWC for special rules on redfish, snook and tarpon in this region
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything