Cedar Key Fishing Pier — Attraction in Cedar Key

The overcast sky draped Cedar Key, Florida, in a soft, muted light on a tranquil morning in the early 1980s, long before the hurricane would claim the historic public fishing pier. The wooden pier at the end of Dock Street stretched out into the Gulf, its planks weathered but sturdy, and its low rails—perfect for sitting—hugged the edges, inviting visitors to rest and take in the salty breeze. Bobby, Margo, and Norm had made their way to the pier that day, a trio of friends with a shared love for music and the simple pleasures of island life. Bobby, in a bright red shirt, stood with a flute pressed to his lips, his fingers dancing as he coaxed out a lilting melody that seemed to float over the water. Margo, dressed in a crisp white outfit, held a woven percussion instrument, shaking it gently to add a rhythmic texture to Bobby’s tune, her smile wide as she swayed to the beat. Norm, seated on a bench with a djembe drum between his knees, kept the heartbeat of their music alive, his hands tapping out a steady rhythm in his floral shirt that matched the laid-back vibe of the day. At the far end of the pier, old man Tucker, a grizzled fisherman who’d spent more years on this pier than most folks had been alive, paused from tending his line. His tackle box sat beside him, a green bucket nearby for any catch, but his attention was on the trio. Tucker leaned against the low wooden rail, just the right height to sit on if he’d wanted, and watched with a quiet amusement. The music, a blend of Bobby’s flute, Margo’s shaker, and Norm’s drum, filled the air, mingling with the sound of waves lapping against the pilings and the distant calls of gulls. The pier felt alive with their song, a moment of harmony that captured the spirit of Cedar Key—unhurried, connected to the sea, and full of small joys. A few other locals lingered nearby, some fishing, others just soaking in the scene, the low rails making it easy to sit and listen. As Bobby hit a high note, Margo laughed, and Norm’s drumming picked up, Tucker tipped his hat in silent appreciation before turning back to his line. The trio played on, their music a memory etched into the pier’s wooden heart, a snapshot of a simpler time before the storm would wash...

UPDATE 03/01/2024 pier is back open and bathrooms are working again!!

Cedar Key Pier is a great place to visit and fish in Cedar Key!

You can catch almost anything from the pier. I have caught almost every kind of game fish, and have seen even more caught from there!

While Channel Catfish are very plentiful, you can also catch some great eating fish and some that are just fun to catch! I have caught Black drum up to 26 pounds (big ones have worms in them and should be released to be breeders, smaller ones are better eating anyway), Red Drums (reds), Spotted and Silver Sea Trout, Sharks (several kinds with Bonnett Head being the most common) rays, sheepshead, Snook, Tarpon and more.

A drop net for pier fishing is a must. The pier is a good 12 to 18 feet off the water depending on the tide. And you need to have the right gear for the pier. You shouldn't fish with lightweight fresh water gear. You will lose it or break it. Some of the fish are just downright big. Saltwater rods and reels of fairly stout kind are best.

You may see dolphin out on the channel and the occasional mantee will glide by. The sunrises and sunsets are beautiful when the weather is right and worth getting up a bit early to see from the pier!

The current here is strong and during tide it moves fast enough to require a 4 oz or heavier pyramid sinker to keep your bait in place. Bottom fishing is the only way to fish here during tides. During slack tide you can fish almost anyway you want. Single or double hook setups are the standard. The most common all around bait that works best is live shrimp and cut baits for most. Blue crab works well for drum. There is a bait shop, the Rusty Hook, right next to the pier and is very convenient.

The pier has very nice restrooms and is kept up by a very nice lady who cleans them every morning. There is no charge to fish from the pier! So if you decide to try it out, look for me! I fish it once or twice a week, mostly during the weekdays, but now and then on the weekends when I take a friend out there!

You can follow my fishing there at...

Went out of my way to find this little community on the west coast of Florida. Wanted to see what the small beach towns were like.

Got there in the late afternoon, when the locals and visitors from other nearby towns were on the dock fishing. The people seemed friendly enough and the fishing population was quite diverse. Although I noticed it changed as the night fell.

Only spent about 2 hour here. So all that I can say, is that it was a nice little place to visit, but waaaaaaay off the normal path of travel. A little girl caught this fish right off of the docks. It weighed almost as much as she did. The sun went down quickly and I caught this photo of the moon as it rose...