Best Fishing Piers in America: Top 25

The United States has thousands of public fishing piers stretching into oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes from coast to coast. Some are short municipal docks. Others are massive structures extending over a thousand feet into the water with bait shops, cleaning stations, and lighting for night fishing. These are the 25 best fishing piers in America — the ones that consistently produce great catches, offer excellent facilities, and are worth traveling to fish. Whether you are planning a fishing vacation or looking for a legendary pier to add to your bucket list, this list has you covered. Before you go, make sure you are prepared with the right gear by reading our complete pier fishing checklist.

Southeast & Gulf Coast

1. Skyway Fishing Pier — St. Petersburg, Florida

The Skyway Fishing Pier is the longest fishing pier in the world, built on the remnants of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. It stretches over a mile into the bay and produces an incredible variety of species including kingfish, Spanish mackerel, grouper, snapper, sheepshead, and tarpon. The deep water and strong currents around the bridge pilings make this one of the most productive fishing structures in Florida.

2. Navarre Beach Fishing Pier — Navarre, Florida

At 1,545 feet, Navarre Beach Pier is one of the longest piers on the Gulf of Mexico. It reaches deep enough water to attract king mackerel, cobia, and even the occasional sailfish during summer months. The pier has a well-stocked bait shop and is known for producing large catches of pompano, redfish, and flounder during spring and fall.

3. Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier — Pensacola, Florida

Extending 1,471 feet into the Gulf, Pensacola Beach Pier is a destination for anglers targeting king mackerel, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and pompano. The pier sits over clean, emerald-green water with a sandy bottom that attracts pompano in large numbers during their spring migration. Night fishing under the pier lights draws snook and tarpon during warm months.

4. Sebastian Inlet State Park Pier — Melbourne Beach, Florida

Sebastian Inlet is legendary among Florida anglers. The jetties and piers at the inlet provide access to some of the most productive water on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Snook fishing here is world-class, particularly at night on outgoing tides. Redfish, flounder, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel round out the catch list.

5. Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier — Deerfield Beach, Florida

This 976-foot pier in South Florida extends into the Atlantic over a natural reef, which makes it exceptionally productive. The reef attracts snapper, grouper, barracuda, and yellowtail. During the winter months, sailfish and kingfish pass within casting range. It is one of the few piers in the country where reef fishing is possible from the structure itself.

6. Gulf State Park Pier — Gulf Shores, Alabama

The Gulf State Park Pier in Alabama was rebuilt in 2009 and stretches 1,540 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the premier piers on the entire Gulf Coast, producing king mackerel, cobia, pompano, redfish, and flounder. The concrete construction and modern amenities, including a full bait shop and fish cleaning stations, make it a comfortable all-day fishing destination.

7. Bob Hall Pier — Corpus Christi, Texas

Bob Hall Pier is the most iconic fishing pier in Texas. Located on Padre Island, it extends 1,240 feet into the Gulf of Mexico and is a year-round producer of redfish, black drum, speckled trout, and kingfish. The pier is free to fish with a Texas fishing license, and the surrounding surf also offers excellent wade fishing opportunities.

8. 61st Street Fishing Pier — Galveston, Texas

Galveston's 61st Street Pier is a favorite among Texas anglers for its consistent action on speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead, and bull reds. The pier offers rod rentals, a bait shop, and cleaning stations, making it accessible for beginners and tourists visiting the island. Night fishing is particularly productive for large bull redfish.

Atlantic Coast

9. Jennette's Pier — Nags Head, North Carolina

Jennette's Pier is a 1,000-foot concrete pier on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and is considered one of the finest fishing piers on the East Coast. It produces red drum, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder, cobia, and king mackerel. The pier is owned by the North Carolina Aquariums and features educational exhibits alongside excellent fishing.

10. Avalon Fishing Pier — Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Another Outer Banks legend, Avalon Pier has been a staple of the North Carolina fishing scene for decades. The wooden pier extends 705 feet and produces bluefish, flounder, Spanish mackerel, spot, croaker, and the occasional cobia. It has a loyal community of regulars who fish it daily during the season.

11. Apache Pier — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

At 1,206 feet, Apache Pier is one of the longest wooden piers on the East Coast. Located in South Carolina, it is a top destination for king mackerel fishing during summer and fall. Flounder, red drum, whiting, and Spanish mackerel are also caught consistently. The pier has a full-service bait and tackle shop.

12. Folly Beach Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier — Folly Beach, South Carolina

The Folly Beach Pier stretches 1,045 feet into the Atlantic and is the only public pier in the Charleston area. It produces flounder, red drum, sheepshead, whiting, and bluefish year-round. King mackerel and cobia show up during the warmer months. The pier recently underwent major renovations and features modern amenities.

13. Virginia Beach Fishing Pier — Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier extends into the Atlantic from the famous Virginia Beach boardwalk in Virginia. It is known for producing flounder, croaker, spot, bluefish, red drum, and striped bass. The pier sits in a prime location along the Chesapeake Bay migration route, which brings a rotating cast of species throughout the season.

14. Lynnhaven Fishing Pier — Virginia Beach, Virginia

Lynnhaven Pier is a Chesapeake Bay institution. The pier produces flounder, croaker, spot, striped bass, and the occasional cobia. Its location inside the bay means calmer water and more consistent fishing than ocean-facing piers, making it an excellent choice for families and beginners.

15. Steeplechase Pier — Coney Island, New York

For anglers in the New York metro area, the Steeplechase Pier in Coney Island offers surprising fishing right in the heart of Brooklyn. Striped bass, bluefish, fluke, and porgy are all caught from this pier. It is free to fish and accessible by subway, making it one of the most urban fishing piers in the country.

Pacific Coast

16. Ocean Beach Pier — San Diego, California

Ocean Beach Pier is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast at 1,971 feet. Located in California, it reaches deep water where halibut, yellowtail, bonito, mackerel, and bat rays are regularly caught. The T-shaped end platform gives anglers access to deeper water and stronger currents. Like most California ocean piers, no fishing license is required.

17. Balboa Pier — Newport Beach, California

Balboa Pier sits in one of the most picturesque settings in Southern California. Beyond the scenery, it produces solid catches of halibut, surfperch, mackerel, and sand bass. The adjacent Newport Bay holds spotted bay bass and halibut that cruise along the pilings, especially during warmer months.

18. Pacifica Municipal Pier — Pacifica, California

Just south of San Francisco, Pacifica Pier is one of the best pier fishing spots in Northern California. Striped bass, jacksmelt, surfperch, and the occasional lingcod are caught here. The pier is free, requires no license, and offers dramatic views of the Pacific coast.

19. Hermosa Beach Pier — Hermosa Beach, California

Hermosa Beach Pier is a consistent producer of halibut, mackerel, surfperch, and bonito in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. The pier extends 1,140 feet over a sandy bottom that holds excellent halibut habitat. It is one of the best halibut piers in Southern California.

20. Astoria Pier — Astoria, Oregon

At the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, fishing piers in Astoria give anglers access to salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and Dungeness crab. The confluence of river and ocean creates one of the most species-rich fishing environments in the Pacific Northwest.

21. Les Davis Pier — Tacoma, Washington

Les Davis Pier on Puget Sound in Washington is one of the top shore-fishing spots in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Anglers catch squid, salmon, rockfish, and flounder from this pier. Squid jigging under the pier lights at night is a popular activity during fall and winter runs.

22. Edmonds Fishing Pier — Edmonds, Washington

Located north of Seattle on Puget Sound, Edmonds Pier offers access to an underwater marine sanctuary that attracts a diverse range of species. Salmon, lingcod, rockfish, and perch are all caught here. The pier is free, well-maintained, and one of the most popular fishing spots in the greater Seattle area.

Honorable Mentions

23. Sunglow Pier — Daytona Beach, Florida

Sunglow Pier combines fishing with a beachside restaurant right on the structure. It produces whiting, pompano, flounder, and bluefish, and the restaurant will cook your catch for you. It is one of the most unique pier fishing experiences in Florida.

24. Kure Beach Fishing Pier — Kure Beach, North Carolina

One of the oldest fishing piers on the Atlantic Coast, Kure Beach Pier has been in operation since 1923. It produces flounder, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and red drum. The pier has a deep history and a loyal following of anglers who return season after season.

25. Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier — Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Extending 1,262 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, the Okaloosa Island Pier is one of the top piers on the Emerald Coast. King mackerel, cobia, redfish, pompano, and Spanish mackerel are all caught here regularly. The pier features a bait shop, snack bar, and excellent lighting for night fishing sessions.

Plan Your Trip

Every pier on this list is worth the trip, and most are accessible to anglers of all skill levels. If you are new to pier fishing, start with our pier fishing tips for beginners to make sure you are prepared. Browse all piers by state on PierSeeker to find fishing piers in Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Every listing includes free GPS coordinates so you can navigate directly to the pier.