10 Best States for Pier Fishing (Ranked)

Not all coastlines are created equal. Some states have miles of productive fishing piers with deep water, big species, and year-round seasons. Others have a handful of piers and a short window of good fishing. This ranking weighs three things: pier density (how many public piers are accessible), species variety (what you can realistically catch), and angler-friendliness (licensing, access, and cost).

Here are the 10 best states for pier fishing in the United States, ranked.

1. Florida

Florida is the pier fishing capital of the country, and it isn't close. The state has the most public fishing piers of any state, two productive coastlines (Atlantic and Gulf), and a year-round season. Species variety is unmatched: snook, tarpon, redfish, sheepshead, Spanish and king mackerel, pompano, flounder, cobia, and sharks all show up on piers here. Must-fish piers include the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier in Tampa Bay (a converted former bridge with deep-water access), Juno Beach Pier on the Atlantic, and Anna Maria City Pier for Gulf snook and flats species.

2. California

California deserves the #2 spot because almost every public pier in the state allows fishing without a saltwater license, a rare and generous rule that dramatically lowers the barrier to entry. The Pacific produces halibut, white seabass, surfperch, mackerel, jacksmelt, bonito, and the occasional yellowtail. Manhattan Beach Pier, Santa Monica Pier, and Oceanside Pier are three of the most productive and accessible, each with deep water off the end and steady bait schools.

3. North Carolina

North Carolina is the undisputed king mackerel pier fishing state. The Outer Banks and coastal piers sit on migratory highways for kings, cobia, and red drum. Jennette's Pier in Nags Head is the crown jewel — a concrete pier with a king rig platform and a cult following. Avon Pier on Hatteras Island produces giant drum and kings in season. Spanish mackerel, flounder, bluefish, sharks, and pompano round out the species list. Fall is prime time.

4. South Carolina

South Carolina has quieter piers than its neighbor to the north, but the fishing is just as good for inshore species. Redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum are the staples. Folly Beach Pier near Charleston is a reliable producer, and Pawleys Island Pier and the Apache Pier in Myrtle Beach (one of the longest on the East Coast) both put anglers over productive water. Whiting, spot, and bluefish keep the rods bent between bigger fish.

5. Texas

Texas piers offer big water and big fish. Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi was historically one of the longest Gulf piers in the state and is being rebuilt with extended length and modern amenities. Galveston's 61st Street and Pleasure Pier give easy big-city access. Redfish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon in the summer, bull reds, sharks, and the occasional king mackerel all show up. A Texas saltwater license is required for most piers.

6. Virginia

Virginia sits at the collision point of the mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay species mixes, which means excellent variety. Croaker, flounder, spot, striped bass, and bluefish are the main targets. The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, Lynnhaven Pier, and the Ocean View Pier in Norfolk all deliver. Fall striped bass runs through the Chesapeake Bay mouth are a bucket-list event for East Coast anglers.

7. New Jersey

New Jersey is a striped bass and bluefish paradise from May through December. The Jersey Shore piers and jetties get the full benefit of the coastal striper migration. Ocean Grove Pier, the Asbury Park oceanfront, and the Belmar-area jetties put anglers on striped bass, bluefish, fluke, blackfish (tautog), and sea bass. Fall blitzes on the beachfront are legendary — when the birds are diving, cast a metal and hold on.

8. Maryland

Maryland offers both Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay pier options, which is rare and valuable. Ocean City's piers and pilings produce flounder, spot, croaker, and bluefish on the oceanside. Sandy Point State Park on the Bay is a striper and white perch stronghold. The bay-to-ocean range lets anglers switch species based on weather or season without leaving the state.

9. Oregon

Oregon is an underrated West Coast pier destination. The Columbia River piers in Astoria and the Newport bayfront piers produce salmon during fall runs, plus lingcod, cabezon, rockfish, and greenling along the jetties and public piers. The fishing is weather-dependent and the season is shorter, but when it's on, the quality of fish is high. Crabbing off the same piers is a bonus.

10. Washington

Washington rounds out the top 10 on the strength of Puget Sound pier fishing. Edmonds Fishing Pier is a legitimately world-class public pier with salmon, rockfish, lingcod, flounder, and squid (jigging for squid at night is a local specialty). The Seattle Waterfront piers also produce, especially during the summer salmon runs. Cold water keeps the bite steady through much of the year.

Honorable Mentions

Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana all have solid Gulf Coast pier fishing but fewer public piers than the top 10. Massachusetts and Rhode Island have excellent striped bass pier spots but short seasons. Alaska has world-class fishing but very limited pier infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best pier fishing state is the one closest to you. But if you're planning a trip, Florida is the clear pick — and if you want to fish without a license, California is the best second choice.