New Smyrna Beach North Causeway Fishing

New Smyrna Beach North Causeway is a drawbridge over the Indian River North with public fishing piers underneath it on both ends, close enough to Ponce Inlet to get real tidal flow.

• Snook, redfish, black drum and sheepshead on the bridge pilings
• Seatrout and flounder along the channel edges
• Two parks with piers, restrooms and free parking
• Busy water with yachts and sailboats waiting for the bridge

The causeway links downtown New Smyrna Beach with the beachside; the piers are at its two ends.

• West end: the North Causeway boat ramp park, with a fishing pier under the causeway bridge, fixed docks and parking for about 40 trailers
• East end: Buena Vista Park, just off the causeway, with two piers; the longer one runs about 250 feet into the river and turns under the bridge
• Admission: free at both parks, with limited parking spaces
• Hours: both parks are open sunrise to sunset
• Surface: level wooden piers with rails

Tidal flow from Ponce Inlet keeps the bridge productive all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish, black drum and sheepshead finishing up, seatrout on the grass edges
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and mangrove snapper on the pilings, jacks and ladyfish
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, redfish, flounder and tarpon
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the bridge pilings, seatrout in the channel

Light tackle for bait and snapper, stronger tackle for the bridge fish.

• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader and small strong hook beside the pilings
• Snook and redfish: live shrimp, finger mullet or pinfish on a 30 to 40 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Black drum: shrimp, clams or crab on the bottom
• Flounder: mud minnows along the channel edge
• Seatrout: a popping cork with shrimp at first light
• A bridge net or long-handled landing net helps

Being a few miles inside Ponce Inlet, the causeway gets real Atlantic tides, twice a day.

• Moving water on either tide is best; slack water is slow
• The first of the incoming brings clearer inlet water and more game fish
• Dawn and dusk, at the edges of park hours, are the best snook times in summer
• Winter cold fronts push sheepshead and drum onto the pilings
• Heavy rain stains the river; slow down and use live bait

Both piers are railed and easy to reach.

• Boats pass under the bridge constantly and wait for openings; keep lines out of the channel
• Barnacle-covered pilings cut line and hands
• Summer lightning; leave when storms build
• Watch for manatees and dolphins around the piers
• Level piers and paved parking suit most anglers
• Bridge openings bring boats close to the piers; reel in when a big boat passes

Both parks are well set up.

• Restrooms at both the North Causeway ramp park and Buena Vista Park
• A picnic pavilion at the ramp park and a playground at Buena Vista
• Buena Vista Park is dog friendly on a leash
• Bait and tackle shops are in New Smyrna Beach within a short drive
• Parking at both parks; spaces are limited

• Choose the pier on the side the current is pushing against
• Winter sheepshead are the most dependable catch here
• Check snook seasons before you go; release them carefully in closed months
• Early mornings avoid the heat and the crowds
• Bring small hooks for bait and a bigger rod for the pilings
• Watch the bridge openings; boats idling near the fenders scatter fish for a few minutes

The North Causeway boat ramp park and Buena Vista Park are City of New Smyrna Beach parks; the bridge is state property.

• 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
• Keep off the boat docks when boats are launching
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything