Fifteen public kayak launches put you on legitimate fish between Anna Maria Island and Charlotte Harbor — including eight county artificial reefs inside Sarasota Bay sitting in 7–12 ft of water, well within paddle range. The three to learn first: Ted Sperling Park (Lido mangrove tunnels), Turtle Beach (the reopened Midnight Pass), and Phillippi Estate Park (winter snook creek). Every launch on one map, then what’s in paddle range for each.
Map: 15 kayak launches, Anna Maria to Pine Island
Numbered pins match the directory below. Tap a pin for what’s in paddle range and directions.
The launches: what’s in paddle range
Sarasota Bay 5
Ted Sperling Nature Park
190 Taft Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
The signature paddle — mangrove tunnels between Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou for snook and snapper, then out to the Big Pass grass edges. Rentals on site.
Centennial Park
1059 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
Launch downtown to the Jonnie Walker and Sportfishing Anglers Club reefs (12 ft) and the bayfront flats.
Ken Thompson Park
1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Paddle straight over the O.D. Miller reef at the City Island piers, plus New Pass and the St. Armands flats.
Turtle Beach
8862 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242
Short canal to the Jim Neville Preserve mangrove islands and the reopened Midnight Pass — the best new kayak water on the coast.
Phillippi Estate Park
5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
Phillippi Creek — Sarasota's urban winter snook hole (Dec–Feb) — plus Roberts Bay flats for trout and reds year-round.
Manatee & AMI 3
Palma Sola Causeway
9000 block Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34209
Hand-launch into the protected Palma Sola Bay grass flats.
Kingfish Boat Ramp
752 Manatee Ave W, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
Anna Maria Sound and the Bulkhead flat edges from the Kingfish ramp.
Coquina Bayside
2000 block Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Longboat Pass edges and the Jewfish Key sandbar.
Venice & Myakka 2
Higel Marine Park
1330 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice, FL 34285
Roberts Bay (Venice) and the Venice Inlet approaches.
Snook Haven Park
5000 E Venice Ave, Venice, FL 34292
Tannin-stained, mangrove-lined Myakka — prime winter snook as harbor fish push upriver; juvenile tarpon in the side creeks.
Englewood 2
Indian Mound Park
210 Winson Ave, Englewood, FL 34223
A six-mile mangrove aquatic preserve with arguably the best resident snook population in the region — free, protected, endless shoreline.
Stump Pass Beach State Park
900 Gulf Blvd, Englewood, FL 34223
Paddle to Whidden and Peterson keys and Stump Pass. Shore and kayak access only — no trailer ramp here.
Charlotte Harbor 3
El Jobean
4224 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte, FL 33953
Lower Myakka River and the Tarpon Hole area.
Ponce de Leon Park
3400 Ponce De Leon Pkwy, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Charlotte Harbor's east edge and Alligator Creek.
Pineland Marina
13921 Waterfront Dr, Bokeelia, FL 33922
Turtle-grass flats and mangrove keys on the Great Calusa Blueway — redfish year-round.
Fish the tunnel mouths and lagoon edges for snook and snapper.
What are the Lido mangrove tunnels?
Ted Sperling Nature Park at South Lido is the region’s signature paddle: a lagoon system threading mangrove tunnels between Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou, with rentals on site and manatees and dolphins as regular company. For fishing, work the tunnel mouths and lagoon edges for snook and mangrove snapper, then slide out to the grass edges toward Big Pass on moving water. Current at the Big Pass corner is real — respect it in a kayak, especially on the outgoing tide.
Which artificial reefs can I reach by kayak?
Sarasota County built eight bay reefs specifically inside kayak range, in 7–12 ft of water. Coordinates below are reef center points from the county reef brochure; the county reef program page has the full program.
| Reef | Lat N | Lon W | Depth (ft) | Nearest launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart’s Family | 27°22.075’ | 82°34.477’ | 10 | Centennial (long paddle) |
| Jonnie Walker | 27°22.380’ | 82°35.525’ | 12 | Centennial |
| Sportfishing Anglers Club | 27°21.080’ | 82°35.883’ | 12 | Centennial |
| O.D. Miller | 27°20.190’ | 82°34.546’ | 9–21 | Ken Thompson (it’s at the City Island piers) |
| Pop Jantzen | 27°19.709’ | 82°33.849’ | 7 | Ken Thompson / Bird Key Park |
| Jim Evans | 27°19.727’ | 82°33.452’ | 10 | Bird Key Park |
| Bully Powers | 27°18.862’ | 82°34.292’ | 12 | Ted Sperling |
| Rose Coker | 27°18.698’ | 82°32.537’ | 7 | Siesta Drive area |
What lives on them: sheepshead, mangrove snapper, snook, black drum, redfish, and trout. A shrimp on a jighead drifted over the rubble covers all six. The FWC artificial reef locator has downloadable coordinates for every reef on this coast.
Fish the edges on moving water; stay out of the throat on a screaming outgoing.
Is Midnight Pass worth the paddle?
Yes — it’s the best new kayak water on the coast. Closed since 1983, Midnight Pass was blown back open by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Late-2025 county surveys measured 11–17 ft of depth and ~200 ft of width, and Sarasota County’s stated intent is to keep it open. Restored tidal flow has revived Little Sarasota Bay, and the inlet now moves snook, tarpon, and sharks through water that was stagnant for 40 years.
The route: launch at Turtle Beach, run the short canal, cross into the Jim Neville Marine Preserve mangrove islands, and fish your way south to the inlet. Treat the pass itself with respect — it is a functioning, unmarked tidal inlet with genuine current. Fish the edges on moving water; stay out of the throat on a screaming outgoing.
Where do kayakers catch winter snook?
Three creeks and rivers, all with dedicated launches:
- Phillippi Creek (Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S Tamiami Trail): Sarasota’s urban winter snook hole. Fish push into the creek’s deeper, warmer water December–February; the US 41 bridge and adjacent seawalls hold the big ones, and the creek-mouth flats hold trout and redfish year-round. Summer brings juvenile tarpon.
- Myakka River (Snook Haven Park, 5000 E Venice Ave): tannin-stained, mangrove-lined, and prime in winter as Charlotte Harbor fish push upriver into warmer, deeper water. Work shoreline structure and creek mouths. Juvenile tarpon live in the brackish side creeks.
- Lemon Bay (Indian Mound Park, Englewood): a six-mile mangrove-lined aquatic preserve with a strong resident snook population — free launch, protected water, endless shoreline.
A popping cork with a live shrimp is the default kayak rig on all three; see the live bait guide for the castnet game.
What about Charlotte Harbor and beyond?
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park wraps roughly 45,000 acres of the harbor shoreline, which is why the flats still fish wild. El Jobean and Ponce de Leon Park put paddlers on the lower Myakka and the harbor’s east edge respectively. Further south, the Great Calusa Blueway runs the length of Pine Island Sound — launch at Pineland Marina or Matlacha for turtle-grass flats and mangrove keys that hold redfish year-round. The Charlotte County fishing and launch directory lists every county access point.
What should kayak anglers know about seagrass?
Prop scars take 5–10 years to heal — that’s straight from the county reef brochure, and it’s the reason kayaks are the conscience of this fishery. Drift or pole across flats, stow the paddle blade on shallow grass, and use marked channels between spots. The Sarasota Bay boating guide maps the grass and the channels.
FAQ
Do I need a license to fish from a kayak? Yes — a kayak counts as a vessel, so standard Florida saltwater license rules apply. Verify current requirements at FWC.
What’s the easiest launch for a first kayak fishing trip? Ted Sperling Park. Protected water, rentals on site, fish in the first 200 yards, and the tunnels keep you out of wind.
Can I kayak to Midnight Pass? Yes — launch at Turtle Beach, ~10–20 minutes of protected paddling through the canal and Jim Neville Preserve. Fish the edges; avoid the inlet throat on strong tides.
Which bay reefs are closest to a launch? O.D. Miller sits at the City Island piers (Ken Thompson launch), and Bully Powers is a short paddle from Ted Sperling. Both hold sheepshead and snapper in under 21 ft.
Is winter or summer better for kayak fishing here? Both produce; they’re different games. Winter = creek and river snook, clear water, sheepshead on the reefs. Summer = flats trout at dawn, juvenile tarpon in the creeks, more thunderstorm risk — be off the water by early afternoon.
Related
Trailer boaters should start with the boat ramps directory — most kayak launches share those facilities. If you’re staying on foot, see fishing piers and bridges and surf and shore fishing. For target species from a kayak, the snook, redfish, and seatrout pages cover the inshore slam, and the Siesta Key and Englewood area pages detail the two best kayak zones on the coast.
