Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge Piers, Daytona Beach Fishing

The Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge Piers are the fishing platforms built with Daytona Beach's new Orange Avenue bridge, one on each bank of the Halifax River. They give shore anglers a way onto a stretch of the Intracoastal that the tall new span would otherwise have closed off.

• Fishing piers on both sides of the river, tied to a bridge with wide sidewalks
• Brackish tidal water with sheepshead, redfish, black drum and trout
• Close to downtown Daytona Beach and the city's other river docks
• Not confirmed: current condition and exact layout of each pier

The bridge carries Orange Avenue (Silver Beach Avenue on the east side) across the Halifax River in Daytona Beach. Volusia County built it, and its piers sit on the two river banks beside the approaches.

• Access: the bridge has 8-foot sidewalks and is wheelchair accessible; the piers are reached from the banks beside it
• Parking: not confirmed; there is public parking near the west bank, and you should use signed lots rather than the road shoulder
• Fees and hours: none published that we could find, so check the signs on site
• The pin sits on the east-bank approach, estimated from the map

The Halifax River here behaves like a lagoon, with mullet, bait and structure in the shade of the bridge.

• Spring (Mar-May): seatrout and redfish on the edges, jacks and ladyfish when bait shows
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper and catfish around the pilings, early and late bites
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and black drum move along the banks, with a mullet run in the river
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead at its best on pilings and rock, plus black drum

Light to medium spinning gear works from a low pier, with a leader strong enough to turn a fish away from the pilings.

• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs, oysters or shrimp on a small hook right against the structure
• Redfish and black drum: cut crab or shrimp on a bottom rig along the bank
• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic on a jig head
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons or jigs, retrieved fast
• Bring a long-handled net if you plan to land larger fish from the deck

The Halifax River follows the Atlantic tide twice a day, though it is slower and weaker here than at Ponce Inlet to the south.

• Moving water is best; the hours around a tide change are the most productive
• Sheepshead bite hardest on cold, clear winter days
• Heavy rain freshens the river and can push the redfish and trout bite away for a few days
• A light wind and cloud cover help in summer

This is a city bridge with real traffic, so keep gear and children away from the roadway.

• Do not fish from the travel lanes or park on the shoulder
• Slippery boards and algae near the waterline after rain
• Boat wakes and the occasional kayak: keep your line clear
• Summer storms build fast in the afternoon; leave at the first thunder
• Catfish and some sheepshead have sharp spines

We confirmed little about on-site facilities.

• Sidewalks on the bridge itself, wide enough for walking with gear
• Public parking and downtown riverfront areas lie within a short walk of the west bank
• Restrooms, bait and lighting at the piers are not confirmed; bring bait, water and a light
• Bait and tackle can be found elsewhere in Daytona Beach

• Arrive on a rising tide and expect to move if the pier is crowded
• Bring fiddler crabs or shrimp rather than counting on buying bait nearby
• A bridge-side pier means light tackle is easier than heavy rods
• The west bank is close to the City Island docks if you want a second option
• Check the signs on both piers when you arrive, since details are not published

Volusia County owns the bridge. We did not find published rules for its fishing piers, so read the posted signs and obey them.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything