Longboat Pass Bridge

76 — GO

Bradenton Beach / Longboat Key

High-current bridge and pass structure at the south end of AMI. Pilings, rocks, a deep hole, and a hard tide exchange make this the move when the flats go slack or the bite shifts to flow.

This spot targets species that are in their active season right now. The current tide stage is not ideal for this setup.

Best window around high tide Sun 6:57 AM

Location

Tides & Moon

Tide data unavailable

Between phases — focus on tide timing over lunar influence

Major feeding5:06 AM – 7:06 AM5:06 PM – 7:06 PM

Minor feeding11:06 PM – 12:06 AM11:06 AM – 12:06 PM

Live Conditions

Water82.4°F

Wave2.0 ft

WindNNW 8 mph

Tidelow

Air82°F

Rain0%

Conditions Match

Conditions check

How it matches right now

Tide: incoming / outgoing / high; low
Wind dir: E, SE, NE; NNW
Wind speed: ≤10 mph ideal; 8 mph
Wave height: 0–2.5 ft; 2.0 ft
Water temp: 68–84°F; 82.4°F
Light: Any; Daytime

✓ ideal ~ close ✗ outside range

Personal logbook

Log this trip with conditions auto-captured from the live feed.

Current Read

Why it scores 76 right now

This spot targets species that are in their active season right now.
The current tide stage is not ideal for this setup.
Light breeze keeps the presentation manageable.
Water temperature is in this spot's active band.
Wave height is in the range this spot wants.

Tactics

Hooks, baits, and lanes for Longboat Pass Bridge

Bridge pilings — weighted shrimp

Rig a live shrimp on a 1/4-1/2 oz jighead or knocker rig and drift it tight to the downcurrent side of the piling. Keep contact without anchoring the bait in one place. Snook and snapper sit where the current softens.

Bucktail — pass sweep

Throw a 1/2 oz white bucktail upcurrent and let it sweep along the bridge shadow. Lift just enough to keep it above the rocks. This is a clean way to cover mackerel, snook, jacks, and snapper without soaking bait.

Deep hole — live pinfish

Drop a live pinfish or large shrimp to the bottom near the deeper hole off the rocks with enough weight to hold. Use 30-40 lb leader and a circle hook. Give big fish time to turn before you lift.

Snapper — chum the eddy

Set up on the soft side of the current and feed small pieces of shrimp or sardine. Drift a tiny bait back naturally on light fluorocarbon. If the bait spins, you are using too much weight.

Target Species

Snook

Fish edges, current seams, and low-light bait movement instead of blind fan casting.

East coast harvest is seasonal and permit-based; on April 17, 2026 the east coast harvest window is open.

Mangrove Snapper

Fish tight to docks, bridge pilings, mangrove roots, and jetty rock. Light line and stealth matter more than lure choice.

FWC: 10" total length minimum, 5 per harvester. Open year-round in state waters.

Spanish Mackerel

Cast ahead of surface schools parallel to the beach. Speed kills — if you're not moving the lure fast, you're doing it wrong.

FWC: 12" fork minimum, 15 per harvester. Open year-round.

Tarpon

Fish passes, bridges, and beach migration lanes at dawn. Match the bait, not the lure catalog.

Tarpon over 75" require a $50 harvest tag (one per person per year). Most are catch-and-release only.

Sheepshead

Fish vertical and tight to pilings; this is a precision bite, not a long-cast bite.

FWC rule set: 12" minimum, 8 per person, open year-round; vessel limit 50 during March and April.

Access

Use legal shoreline, bridge, and park access around Longboat Pass and Coquina Beach. Watch posted bridge restrictions.
Coquina Beach parking and facilities make this easier to stage than the north-end walk-in spots.
Florida saltwater fishing license required unless you are fishing from a covered licensed pier or exempt.
Bring heavier leader, extra jigs, and a landing plan before fishing close to the rocks.
This is a strong backup during the slack/turn window because pass water keeps moving longer than flats water.

Hazards

Current around the bridge can be too fast for light jigheads. Scale weight to bottom contact, not habit.
Rocks, barnacles, and piling bases break fish off fast. Retie after every rub.
Boat traffic is constant through the pass. Keep casts out of the channel and watch your backswing.
Oversized snook and tarpon need room. Do not fish locked drag from the rocks.
Bridge access and construction restrictions change. Posted signs win over app notes.

Highlights

Bridge shade and current breaks hold snook when the sun gets high.
The south-side pilings and nearby hole are prime for weighted shrimp, bucktails, and live pinfish.
Mangrove snapper and sheepshead use the rocks and piling bases as year-round structure.
Spanish mackerel push bait through the pass when the Gulf side is clean and flat.
Early-season tarpon can slide the pass on warm moving-water windows.