Granada Bridge at Cassen Park Fishing

Granada Bridge at Cassen Park is a city fishing pier under the Granada Boulevard bridge in Ormond Beach, with a bait shop right in the park.

• Sheepshead and black drum on the bridge pilings in winter
• Redfish, seatrout, snapper and snook through the warmer months
• Free entry and parking, restrooms and fish-cleaning stations
• A pleasant riverfront park with walking loops over the bridge

Cassen Park is at the west (mainland) end of the Granada Bridge on the Halifax River, at Granada Boulevard and Beach Street in Ormond Beach.

• Parking: free, with ample spaces
• Entry: free
• Hours: listed as open from early morning until midnight
• The pier: runs from the park out under the bridge; level decking with rails
• A walkway under the bridge links Cassen Park with Bailey Riverbridge Park, and the bridge walk loops to the parks on the east end

The pilings are the attraction all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead finishing up, black drum, redfish and seatrout along the river edges
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper, snook at night, jacks and ladyfish
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, snook, flounder and jacks
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the pilings, seatrout in the channel
• Year-round: pinfish and small snapper keep children busy along the pier

A light to medium spinning rod is plenty for most fish here.

• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader with a small strong hook, straight down beside the pilings
• Black drum and redfish: shrimp or blue crab on a Carolina rig
• Snook: live finger mullet or shrimp at night, with a 30 lb leader
• Seatrout: a popping cork and live shrimp, or a small soft plastic
• Snapper: live shrimp on a knocker rig close to the pilings

The Halifax River has a modest tide here, well inside Ponce Inlet to the south.

• Moving water is best, especially the middle hours of either tide
• Winter cold fronts push sheepshead and drum onto the pilings; fish the calm days after
• Nights around lit water are good for snook in summer
• Heavy rain can stain the river and slow the bite

One of the easiest and safest places to fish in Volusia County.

• Summer afternoon thunderstorms bring lightning; leave the pier early
• Decking gets slippery after rain
• Boats pass under the bridge; keep lines clear of the channel
• Railed, level pier and paved paths suit wheelchairs and families
• Walkers and cyclists share the paths under the bridge; keep rods and hooks out of the way
• Watch small children near the rails

Cassen Park is well equipped for anglers.

• A bait shop in the park
• Fish-cleaning stations
• Restrooms
• Boat docks, picnic tables and grills
• Walking paths linking the parks at both ends of the bridge
• Ample free parking beside the pier
• Paved walking loops over the bridge between the four parks at its ends
• Pick up bait at the park's bait shop before walking out

• Winter sheepshead are the local favorite; bring fiddler crabs
• Drop straight down beside the pilings rather than casting out
• Night sessions in summer can turn up snook around the lights
• The bait shop saves a stop on the way in
• Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends
• Clean your fish at the stations, not on the pier

Cassen Park and its pier are run by the City of Ormond Beach.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Keeping a snook requires a snook permit as well as the license; check FWC seasons
• Follow posted park rules, including the closing time
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything