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Discover the Hidden Gem: Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier

Welcome to the captivating world of the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier! Nestled in the heart of Cape Coral, Florida, this hidden gem

Jeffrey Fosse

October 8, 2023

Welcome to the captivating world of the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier! Nestled in the heart of Cape Coral, Florida, this hidden gem offers an unparalleled fishing experience for enthusiasts of all levels. With its stunning waterfront location and an abundance of marine life, this pier has become a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.

Stretching out into the serene waters of the Caloosahatchee River, the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is a haven for anglers seeking tranquility and a thrilling fishing adventure. Whether you are a seasoned fisherman or a novice angler, this pier caters to all skill levels and promises an unforgettable experience.

Table of Contents

The Perfect Fishing Spot

Discover why the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is renowned for being the perfect spot to cast your line. From the pier, you can enjoy panoramic views of the river and its picturesque surroundings. The pier is strategically designed to provide easy access to abundant fishing opportunities, making it an ideal spot to catch a variety of fish species.

Whether you’re targeting snook, tarpon, redfish, or trout, the pier offers ample opportunities to reel in your prized catch. The Caloosahatchee River is known for its diverse marine life, and the pier provides an excellent vantage point to witness the wonders beneath the surface. Prepare to be amazed by the sight of schools of shimmering fish darting through the crystal-clear water.

Fishing Enthusiast’s Paradise

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is a true paradise for fishing enthusiasts. With its convenient amenities such as bait shops and cleaning stations nearby, you can focus on what you love most – fishing. The pier is equipped with sturdy railings and ample space, ensuring a comfortable and safe fishing experience for all.

Whether you prefer casting your line from the pier or bringing your own fishing gear, you’ll find everything you need for a successful day of fishing. The pier’s location also offers the advantage of being close to various fishing hotspots, allowing you to explore different areas and increase your chances of landing that trophy fish.

Family-Friendly Environment

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is not just a haven for anglers but also a fantastic destination for families. Spend quality time with your loved ones while enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the pier. Let your little ones experience the joy of fishing and create lasting memories together.

Don’t worry if you’re new to fishing; the pier provides a safe and welcoming environment for beginners. Friendly staff members are always available to offer guidance and assistance, ensuring everyone has a fantastic time exploring the world of fishing.

Teaching the Next Generation

Introduce your children to the wonders of fishing at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier. With its calm waters and abundance of fish, it’s the perfect place to teach them the art of angling. Teach them how to cast a line, bait a hook, and patiently wait for a bite.

Watching their eyes light up with excitement as they reel in their first catch is a priceless experience. The pier also provides a great opportunity for kids to learn about marine life and the importance of conservation. Encourage them to observe the fish they catch before releasing them back into the water, fostering a sense of respect and appreciation for nature.

Marine Life and Ecosystem

Dive into the vibrant marine life surrounding the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier. Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Caloosahatchee River’s diverse ecosystem, teeming with a rich variety of fish, birds, and other fascinating creatures.

As you cast your line, you’ll witness schools of shimmering fish darting beneath the surface and graceful seabirds soaring overhead. The pier serves as a gateway to the captivating world beneath the water’s edge, offering a unique opportunity to connect with nature and appreciate its awe-inspiring beauty.

Aquatic Wonders

The Caloosahatchee River is home to a wide array of fish species. From snook and tarpon to redfish and trout, the waters surrounding the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier are teeming with life. Each fishing trip is an opportunity to encounter different species and marvel at the diversity of marine life.

Take a moment to appreciate the intricate ecosystems that support these fish. The river’s mangroves provide vital nursery areas for juvenile fish, while seagrass beds serve as feeding grounds for various species. By fishing responsibly and respecting these habitats, you contribute to the preservation of the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Spectacular Sunsets

Prepare to be mesmerized by the breathtaking sunsets that grace the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier. As the day draws to a close, the sky transforms into a masterpiece of vibrant hues, casting a magical glow over the tranquil waters.

Capture the perfect Instagram-worthy moment or simply revel in the serene ambiance as the sun dips below the horizon. The pier provides an idyllic setting to unwind and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

A Tranquil Evening Escape

There’s something inherently peaceful about watching the sunset from the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier. As the colors of the sky change, the atmosphere becomes even more serene. Find a comfortable spot on the pier, sit back, and let the beauty of nature envelop you.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. The calming sound of the water lapping against the pier, coupled with the stunning vista before you, creates an oasis of tranquility.

Recreational Activities

Beyond fishing, the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier offers a plethora of recreational activities to enhance your visit. Take a leisurely stroll along the pier and bask in the refreshing sea breeze. Engage in birdwatching as you spot various species of birds that call this area their home.

If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the river’s waters at your own pace. The pier allows you to immerse yourself in nature and indulge in a wide range of outdoor activities.

Exploring the Outdoors

Walking along the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is a delightful experience in itself. As you traverse its length, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the river and the surrounding landscapes. The pier’s wide promenade provides ample space for a leisurely stroll, allowing you to soak in the beauty of your surroundings.

Birdwatching enthusiasts will be thrilled by the opportunity to observe various species of birds in their natural habitat. Keep an eye out for ospreys, herons, pelicans, and other coastal birds as they gracefully glide through the sky or dive into the water to catch their own fish.

Amenities and Facilities

Experience convenience and comfort during your visit to the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier. The pier provides well-maintained restroom facilities, picnic areas, and shaded spots where you can relax and enjoy a picnic with your loved ones.

Additionally, nearby amenities include a playground, a beach, and a swimming pool, making it a perfect destination for a day filled with outdoor fun.

Enjoying the Outdoors with Ease

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier ensures that your visit is as comfortable as it is enjoyable. Take advantage of the well-maintained restroom facilities, allowing you to freshen up during your fishing adventure. The picnic areas provide a picturesque setting for a lunch break or a simple snack.

For those seeking even more outdoor fun, the nearby beach and swimming pool offer a refreshing escape from the heat. Take a dip in the pool or relax on the sandy shores, basking in the warm Florida sun. The pier’s convenient location ensures that you have everything you need for a memorable day of outdoor activities.

Events and Festivities

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is not just a fishing destination; it’s also a hub for community events and festivities. Throughout the year, the pier hosts various fishing tournaments, family-friendly events, and celebrations.

From fishing derbies to live music performances, there’s always something happening at the pier. Join in the festivities and immerse yourself in the vibrant community spirit that surrounds this beloved destination.

Community Spirit and Excitement

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is more than just a gathering place for fishing enthusiasts; it’s a vibrant community hub. Throughout the year, the pier hosts exciting events that bring people together in celebration of their shared love for fishing and the outdoors.

Participate in fishing tournaments and put your skills to the test, competing against fellow anglers. Enjoy live music performances that add a festive atmosphere to the pier. These events create a sense of camaraderie and foster a welcoming community spirit that makes the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier truly special.

In conclusion, the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier offers an enchanting escape for fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With its stunning location, diverse marine life, and family-friendly atmosphere, it is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Plan your visit to this captivating pier, and get readyto create unforgettable memories amidst the beauty of Cape Coral’s waterfront.

Whether you’re an experienced angler seeking the thrill of catching a trophy fish or a family looking for a fun and relaxing day by the water, the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier has something for everyone. Its idyllic setting and abundant amenities make it the perfect destination for a day of outdoor adventure.

As you arrive at the pier, you’ll be greeted by the sight of anglers casting their lines into the glistening water, their anticipation palpable. The pier’s strategic design allows for easy access to prime fishing spots, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance at landing their dream catch.

A World of Fishing Opportunities

Step onto the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier, and you’ll be entering a world of endless fishing opportunities. Whether you prefer saltwater or freshwater fishing, the Caloosahatchee River has it all. The river is home to a diverse range of fish species, providing anglers with a thrilling challenge.

From the elusive snook that tests your skills to the powerful tarpon that puts up a fight, the pier offers a chance to target a variety of fish. Redfish and trout are also plentiful in these waters, providing ample opportunities for anglers to test their luck and skill.

Whether you’re a fan of bait fishing or prefer the excitement of luring fish with artificial lures, the pier caters to all fishing styles. The variety of fish and fishing techniques available make every visit to the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier a unique and rewarding experience.

Tips and Tricks for a Successful Fishing Trip

For those new to fishing, the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is the perfect place to learn the ropes. The friendly staff members are always ready to provide advice and guidance to help you get started. They can assist with everything from selecting the right bait to teaching you the proper way to cast your line.

It’s important to come prepared for your fishing adventure. Make sure to bring the appropriate fishing gear, such as a rod and reel suitable for the type of fishing you plan to do. Additionally, check the local fishing regulations to ensure you’re aware of any size and bag limits or seasonal restrictions.

Patience is key when it comes to fishing, so take your time and enjoy the process. Take breaks to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings and observe the wildlife that calls the Caloosahatchee River home. Keep an eye out for dolphins, manatees, and various bird species that may make an appearance during your fishing excursion.

Preserving the Environment

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is committed to preserving the natural beauty and sustainability of the Caloosahatchee River and its ecosystem. As a visitor, it’s important to do your part in protecting this fragile environment.

One essential practice is practicing catch and release. By releasing the fish you catch back into the water, you help maintain healthy fish populations and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem. Handle the fish with care, minimizing stress and injury, and release them gently back into the water.

Respect the designated fishing areas and follow all local fishing regulations and guidelines. Be mindful of the surroundings, picking up any litter or debris you may come across, and disposing of it properly. It’s our collective responsibility to preserve the beauty of the Caloosahatchee River for future generations to enjoy.

Additional Recreational Opportunities

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier offers more than just fishing. It’s a gateway to a wide range of recreational activities that allow you to make the most of your visit.

If you’re looking for a break from fishing, take a leisurely stroll along the pier and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze. The pier’s wide promenade provides an ideal setting for a scenic walk, allowing you to take in the breathtaking views of the river and its surroundings.

For those seeking a closer connection to the water, consider renting a kayak or paddleboard. Explore the river’s meandering waterways at your own pace, immersing yourself in the tranquility of nature. Keep an eye out for hidden coves and mangrove tunnels as you navigate through the calm waters.

If you’re visiting with family, take advantage of the nearby beach and swimming pool. Cool off with a dip in the pool or enjoy a relaxing day on the sandy shores. The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier ensures that there’s something for everyone to enjoy, creating a well-rounded experience for all visitors.

A Sense of Community

What sets the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier apart is the sense of community that surrounds it. The pier has become a gathering place for fishing enthusiasts, families, and locals who share a love for the outdoors.

Throughout the year, the pier hosts various events and festivities that bring the community together. Fishing tournaments allow anglers to showcase their skills and compete for exciting prizes. Live music performances add a festive atmosphere to the pier, providing entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Engage in conversation with fellow anglers, exchange fishing stories, and learn from each other’s experiences. The Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier is more than just a place to fish; it’s a place to connect with like-minded individuals and form lasting friendships.

In conclusion, the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier offers an unrivaled fishing experience in the heart of Cape Coral, Florida. Whether you’re seeking the thrill of catching a trophy fish or looking to spend quality time with your loved ones in a picturesque setting, this hidden gem has it all. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Caloosahatchee River, connect with nature, and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. Visit the Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier and experience the magic for yourself.

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Cape Yacht Club Pier has long been a destination

Extensive rehabilitation was conducted in 2006 and 2007 after Hurricane Charley. Concrete reinforcing of the piles and plastic boards were added, new fish-cleaning stations were installed and several benches were placed strategically along the length of the pier.

Anyone who drives through Fort Myers and Cape Coral is likely to cross a bridge over the Caloosahatchee River before too many miles have passed. Although the bridges offer breathtaking views, there are other ways to enjoy this nearly 70-mile-long river that stretches westward from the western edge of Lake Okeechobee to San Carlos Bay.

The Yacht Club Fishing Pier is another way. Measuring 600 feet long by 12 feet wide from the shore to the south end of the T —which is 209 feet by 19 feet from end to end—you can take a leisurely stroll from one end to the other and from side to side and enjoy fabulous views of the river, the dolphins, the manatees and the birds that call the river their home.

With a fishing license in hand, you can also grab your fishing pole and catch snapper, red or black drum, trout and snook right off the pier.

"Since the pier extends 600 feet into the river, it provides fishermen with the ability to fish in an area that would normally require a boat to get to," said Paul Pratt, Cape Coral Parks & Recreation, Marine Services supervisor. Pratt explained that during season, it has been estimated that 900 to 1,100 people visit the pier daily.

The pier was originally built in 1960, and then rebuilt in 1974. It was dedicated in 1988. After Hurricane Charley, the category 4 storm that hit Southwest Florida in 2004, extensive rehabilitation was conducted in 2006 and 2007. "Concrete reinforcing of the piles and plastic boards were added as well as new fish cleaning stations and several benches were placed strategically along the length of the pier," said Pratt. Furthermore, Florida provided grant funds for a reef project, which put rock under the pier for improved fish habitat.

Along with offering a fabulous view and a great place to fish, relax and enjoy a stroll, the pier is located at the Yacht Club Community Park, known as "Cape Coral's tropical showcase," where the Cape Coral beach, a community pool, tennis courts, outdoor racquetball courts, a shuffleboard court, picnic shelters, a playground, a seniors center, a boat ramp, the Cape Coral (Godman) Yacht Basin and more can be found.

Also included in the mix is The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill, and the newly added SUPciety (stand-up paddleboard rentals), located underneath the restaurant in the private beach section.

Paddleboarding offers riders the option of paddling through the adjacent canal or in the river itself. The canal offers quieter waters, while the river offers waves and currents, making it more of a challenge.

Ryan Niederberger, the owner of SUPciety, provides an instructional demo beforehand, and the paddleboards are fitted with the right-sized paddles and life jackets. "We have bigger boards for those who have kids and want to bring them along," said Niederberger, who mentioned that often passengers travel along on the paddleboards to enjoy the ride and take in a little sun. "We just had two women who rented a paddleboard. One was paddling and the other was sunning," said Niederberger, who rents the paddleboards by the hour. Full Moon Paddles and other fun activities and events are offered through SUPciety.

While you can dine on a delicious meal upstairs at recently renovated The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill, you can also enjoy one beachside underneath the restaurant where the wait staff keeps a close watch on guests who come to this private section.

If you want to enjoy the fishing pier via paddleboard, you can travel the length of the pier and go around it, or you can go underneath it to get to the other side where the pubic Cape Coral beach is located.

No matter which way you go, a trip to the pier is a perfectly pleasant experience.

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Cape Coral Yacht Club

Cape Coral Yacht Club - Come enjoy the beachfront center for Cape Coral recreation, relaxation, and family fun!

UPDATE January 2022:  Yacht Club Beach will close for major renovations for 2 years starting in April 2022.

UPDATE September 2022:  Due to Hurricane Ian damage the Yacht Club is closed indefinitely.

An elegant fountain welcomes guests ......... and when ground was broken in 1958 to begin building Cape Coral, the Yacht Club was one of the first structures built.

It was important to provide a meeting place and recreation for new residents and also to attract more residents to the Cape during the 1960's.

Today, the Yacht Club continues to provide these services and a whole lot more!  I also think you'll get a kick out of the 60's architecture.

cape coral yacht club

This original landmark is part of Yacht Club Community Park, which has a beach, pool, fishing pier, marina, boat launch, tennis, racquet ball, beach pavilion, and ballroom.

cape coralyacht club wedding

Throughout the years, the Yacht Club ballroom has been an interesting part of Cape Coral History and home to many weddings, parties, gatherings, meetings and events ....... along with 2 additional rooms that can be rented.

yacht club wedding

My daughter has enjoyed the Daddy-Daughter Dance, an event that happens there every January.

cape coral events

From the back of the ballroom, you can see the community public pool. Here's a video of the Cape Coral Yacht Club pool:

The Olympic-sized heated pool is open everyday from March to October from 10AM-5PM.

There is a kiddy pool too, it has a dewdrop fountain and underwater bubblers for some splashing good time!

cape coral fun

Swimming lessons, water aerobics, exercise classes, birthday party packages, and other special events are offered throughout the year.

Annual and semi-annual memberships can be purchased and a picnic area can be rented for parties.

A small playground and shuffleboard court is right next to the pool.

Annual pool memberships run for one year, and Semi-Annual run for6 months from the date of purchase. Swim class fees and rentals are extra.

Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.

cape coral parks

Also located in the Cape Coral Yacht Club building is the Tony Rotino Senior Center where senior citizens can enjoy various activities like fashion shows, teas, dinner dances, exercise or computer classes, day trips, excursions, and fairs.

tony rotino senior center

Next to the Senior Center and across the parking lot are the racquet ball courts.

raquet ball court

And, just beyond the racquet ball courts and pool is the Yacht Club marina.

Also called the Cape Coral or Yacht Club Basin , the marina has 89 boat slips can dock boats up to 55 feet long.

yacht basin marina

Daily, monthly, and annual slip rentals are available on a first-come first-serve basis.

The fuel dock is open 8AM-5PM, and 9AM-5PM on holidays ....... it has gas, diesel, bait, ice, pump-out station, restrooms, showers, washer and dryer.

Next to the marina are five lighted tennis courts that are open Monday-Friday from 8AM-9PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 8AM-5PM.

cape coral tennis courts

Walk-ins are welcome and memberships are available for purchase.

Sign up for programs such as Peewee Tennis, Moms Morning Out, Cardio Tennis, adult and child clinics, and round robins are offered.

And, let's not forget about the boat ramp!

boating in cape coral

Boating in Cape Coral is fantastic! It's only a few miles to Sanibel ....... Ft Myers Beach, Cayo Costa, Captiva, Cabbage Key, and the Gulf of Mexico are just beyond.

Cape Coral residents can buy a $50 annual parking decal for their boat trailer at the Yacht Club or at City Hall.

Parking your boat trailer for the day costs $10 which you pay for at a station at the ramp.

You can't miss the boat ramp, it's just beyond the entrance to the park next to Yacht Club Beach.

As you can see, there are so many fun things to do here, so make sure you get on over to the Yacht Club!

For more information contact:

Yacht Club Community Park 5819 Driftwood Pkwy (239)574-0806

yacht club beach

Related Pages to Cape Coral Yacht Club

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Cape Coralites considered the Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club ‘the hub and the heart’ of their new community

60th anniversary: a look back, by tom hayden - | jun 13, 2022.

yacht club fishing pier

A postcard showing the fishing pier where the Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club will be built and then opened on June 10, 1962.

The Cape Coral Yacht Club is steeped in history from that opening event on June 9, 1962, to significant meetings that changed the course of the city to the many gatherings inside and out of this iconic area.

Before the Yacht Club facility was built residents were already gathering on the site. On Sept. 2, 1961, the day of the building’s groundbreaking, the tennis courts and Olympic-sized swimming pool opened at the $1 million complex, which also included the beach and eventually the youth center.

Dennis Duffala, an early resident, also was one of the original lifeguards at the pool. “We all got trained and would sit there on benches above the pool,” Duffala said. “When people would come from out of town that would be one of the first places they would hit. All of my friends were down there.”

Gulf American Corporation Vice President Connie Mack Jr. was already pushing the merits of the community in a letter to residents — he called them “Cape Coralites” — on the day of the groundbreaking.

“Between the luxurious accommodations (especially priced to homesite owners) at the Nautilus Motel, and the fun facilities at the Yacht and Racquet Club, with a round or two of golf at our Country Club course — topped off by a bit of boating and fishing when the mood suits you — well, let’s face it! Who could ask for anything more … or want to?”

yacht club fishing pier

A postcard featuring the front of the 'new' Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club..

Ann (Finkernagel) Duffala, who is Dennis Duffala’s wife and also one of the first residents, remembers walking with friend Ann Sanborn (whose father Paul Sanborn was Gulf American Corporation’s communications director and general manager of the Yacht Club) to the facility. “At the very beginning, it was the hub and the heart of the whole thing,” said Ann, whose father, Bob Finkernagel, was GAC general manager. “The main thing was it engaged everyone in the community, made everybody a part of it. Anything south of the parkway, the teenagers would just meet there.”

“Dad was not home much. (The Yacht Club) was his second home,” said Mary (Sanborn) Rieser, Paul Sanborn’s daughter. “I have a lot of memories there in dad’s office. I spent a lot of time hanging out there.”

Mary also remembers having Fourth of July celebrations on the beach “because there were so few people there.”

And a few teenage pranks. “The kids used to put soap suds in the fountain and dad would have to go take care of it,” Ann said.

Yes, the Yacht Club was a critical part of the community’s development.

yacht club fishing pier

Postcard featuring the pool of the new Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club..

In 1958, boats that gave prospective land buyers a view of their future, tied up to a small dock that would later become the yacht basin. One of those boats was called Trident.

In the winter of 1959, the Gulf Land and Title Company — the original name of Gulf American Corporation — put concrete blocks together and built a 15-foot grill, where residents would gather on what is now the Yacht Club site to cook steaks and hamburgers. They sang state songs like “Back Home Again in Indiana,” “Beautiful Ohio,” and “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” according to a story by H.D. (Andy) Anderson in the Cape Coral Breeze 20th anniversary edition.

The decking for the 620-foot Cape Coral fishing pier was placed in early 1960, with the “T” of the pier to be added later. The pier became a popular fishing destination and even withstood the wrath of Hurricane Donna later that year.

“We used to spend a lot of time down there,” Dennis Duffala said. “There used to be a lot of regatta races down there. I had a boat then, and we lived on the canal.”

He also lived at the original bait shack at the foot of the pier, where live bait could be purchased. “My father had an account there, and I would just sign my name,” he said.

yacht club fishing pier

An aerial photo of the fishing pier, and the Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club, circa 1966. The opening of the Yacht Club spurred rapid development nearby.

The pier was also special for Damian Minko, another of the first residents. It was a fishing mecca, where everything from big tarpon to much smaller varieties were often reeled in. “It was great fishing back in those days.

He also remembers a petition signed by residents protesting the pier. “It obstructed the view of people living on Riverside at the time,” Minko said. That petition didn’t catch on.

Eileen Bernard, one of the first residents, wrote in 1978 that she remembers slipping a note into the pocket of GAC President Leonard Rosen at a stockholder’s meeting in 1961 in the Yacht Club area, about making the new bridge from Fort Myers to Cape Coral a tourist attraction, with possibly plants or water. They talked about having water spraying over the two-lane bridge, which opened in 1964.

Born from that conversation was Waltzing Waters, purchased by the Rosen brothers while they were in Europe. Otto Przystawik of Germany designed the attraction. Its first home was the original Rose Gardens (where Tarpon Point is now). Developed on a 2.5-acre lake, Waltzing Waters would send more than 800 jets of water as high as 85 feet. The water would change colors to various musical scores. It closed in mid-1970s.

During the summer of 1963, Marily Shumaker had the first swimming classes at the Yacht Club. “There, 15 kids too small to touch bottom hung tightly to the sides of the pool and learned to swim, corner to corner,” Dorothy Needham reported in a Cape Coral Breeze article. “By the end of the summer, those little tots would dive off the board and swim the length of that Olympic size pool.”

“Every little kid learned how to swim there,” Mary Rieser said.

“It was our home away from home. Everything that happened or was important in our lives happened in that building,” said Cape Coral City Council member Gloria Tate, who moved to the city as a child in 1960. “My sister and I played the organ as we had our church service there. It was the gathering place for any activity in Cape Coral. I grew up in that swimming pool. Every lesson I can think of I learned at the Yacht Club.”

The drive to incorporate Cape Coral came to life at the Yacht Club in 1969, with the formation of a citizen’s committee. About 500 people attended that first meeting. Restaurant owner Chester M. Grunsten was named general chairman. Residents were upset they were paying taxes to Lee County but seeing few of the benefits. On Aug. 18, 1970, voters approved incorporation.

One of the city’s boldest predictions was delivered by Leonard Rosen in a speech at the Yacht Club. He told his mother Cape Coral would have population of 12,000 by 1968. His mother responded. “How can you say such a thing. You can’t even keep your room clean.” Leonard was close. The population reached approximately 11,000 then.

Well-known events also took place at the Yacht Club, including Florida Miss World in 1966, with famous broadcaster Larry King the master of ceremonies. Women gathered from across the state to compete for the coveted title. Ann Duffala remembers her father actively involved in promoting the event. She also got a lifelong friend out of it.

As a student at Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckert College), Duffala remembers seeing a woman wearing a turquoise bathing suit. The women competing in the Miss Florida World pageant wore those suits and Ann also had received one of the suits. Ann walked over to the woman and asked where she got the suit? The woman responded she was in a beauty contest in Cape Coral. “We remain good friends to this day,” Duffala said.

The Yacht Club area also has been the site of expansion, renovations and additions over the years. A pair of homes were purchased by the city for approximately $1.8 million in 2003 and 2004 to make way for increased parking and picnic areas. Talks also started then for a parks master plan that included moving the boat ramp, building a parking garage and increasing boat trailer parking. Sound familiar?

A new playground and trailer parking were added by 2007.

About every club that currently exists in the city got its start at the Yacht Club, including the Social Club and Garden Club, as well as various organizations created for residents who moved here from other states.

The German American Social Club also met at the Yacht Club and had successful Oktoberfest and Carnival dances. The club outgrew the facility and moved to its current location on Pine Island Road.

The area’s first teen center, called the Key Club, also was created about five months after the Yacht Club opened. By 1977, the facility became the Cape Coral Senior Center and underwent expansions in 1978, 1988 and 1995. City Councilman Tony Rotino spearhead funding for those projects and the center was eventually named for him. Rotino remains the city’s long-serving council member, holding the seat for 16 straight years from 1978 to 1994. He made only $1 a year as a councilman, but the time he spent with residents, listening and helping, was worth much more.

“I served with Tony on city council for 10 years. He was a true public servant who loved to help people,” former mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz once said. Rotino passed away on Dec. 22, 2009, at the age of 95.

The city took over operations of the Yacht Club in September 1973, paying $100,000 to GAC, which reported the club had been losing money. The youth center closed that year as well.

In 1998, the Cape Coral City Council adopted a resolution declaring the “the Yacht Club Community Park as an historic and/or cultural resource as provided in the city of Cape Coral historic and cultural preservation ordinance.” It was signed by then mayor Roger Butler on April 23.

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Great fishing pier - Cape Coral

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This is a lovely area to explore where last years hurricane has not damaged it. We stayed in a... read more

yacht club fishing pier

Cape Coral nice place to stay. City is recovering from storm damage but restaurants and stores are... read more

yacht club fishing pier

Great fishing pier

We really liked fishing on the pier. I am not too sure about swimming here as we heard about a lot of sharks being caught right there. I was hoping to bring my dogs out here but i did not see any place to bring them to.There are lots of little green parrots in the trees,just listen and you will see them. Great public boat ramp but it costs $10 to park truck and trailer.

Fiishing on the pier, snacks on the boardwalk, walk on the beach. Good times. The pool is great. very big and has a diving board.

yacht club fishing pier

I *NEVER* rave about community pools, but THIS one is SO large and SO well maintained - especially for an outdoor one - that even locals (like me) who have their OWN pools in their own yards go to it! Has a nice little snack bar too.

Cape Coral has more than 400 miles of canals - more than any other city in the world. However with all of the water there are not lots of sandy beache. This place has one of the best. The water is very shallow and there is minimal wave action. Great for kids. Great parking and a nice little walk up food stand with food and beer as i recall. This is part of the original plan of Cape Coral and a great idea with great execution. Very inexpensive way to go to the BEACH.

There is something for everyone. A nice clean family beach. Free parking and fishing pier, that is also great at sunset. The snack bar is convenient and occasionally has entertainment. Clubhouse hosts parties and events. The pool is a real pleasure at a reasonable cost. Tennis courts and racquetball for the athletes. Cape Coral has provided this facility as a part of our property tax.

Great place to walk out on the pier, take the kids to the beach, has a bar and grill overlooking water.

The 5 Best Fishing Piers In Fort Myers, Fl

We started Captain Experiences to make it easy to book fishing and hunting guides around the world. With over 1,500 Damn Good Guides, our platform makes finding and booking a trip seamless. Head here to check out our trips.

Whether you're heading out on a fishing charter or looking to fish near the shore, Fort Myers offers some of the best access to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. If you're looking for a cost-effective way to catch popular species in the area without the need for a boat, fishing piers are a great option. Below are 5 of the most popular fishing piers in the Fort Myers area.

Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier

1. Fort Myers Beach Pier

Location: Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier, 950 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 Access Fee? Yes, a fee is required.

The Fort Myers Beach Pier, extending 560 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, is a popular fishing spot. Located near the heart of Fort Myers Beach, it offers anglers the chance to catch a variety of species, including snook, redfish, and sheepshead. While an access fee is required, the pier provides amenities such as cleaning stations and restrooms, making it a convenient and well-maintained location for anglers of all skill levels.

2. Matanzas Pass Preserve Fishing Pier

Location: Matanzas Pass Preserve, 199 Bay Rd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 Access Fee? No fee is required.

Nestled within the scenic Matanzas Pass Preserve, this fishing pier offers a tranquil and natural setting for anglers. The pier stretches 450 feet into Estero Bay, providing opportunities to catch species like snook, redfish, and spotted seatrout. With no access fee, this pier is a popular choice for those seeking a more serene fishing experience amidst the beauty of the preserve.

3. Cape Coral Yacht Club Fishing Pier

Location: Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL 33904 Access Fee? No fee is required.

Situated within the Cape Coral Yacht Club, this fishing pier is a beloved spot for anglers. The 600-foot-long pier extends into the Caloosahatchee River, offering access to species such as snook, tarpon, and sheepshead. The pier provides amenities like fish cleaning stations, benches, and lighting for night fishing. With no access fee, it is a convenient and family-friendly location for fishing enthusiasts.

4. Punta Rassa Fishing Pier

Location: Punta Rassa Boat Ramp, 18500 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33908 Access Fee? No fee is required.

Overlooking the scenic San Carlos Bay, the Punta Rassa Fishing Pier is a popular spot for anglers seeking a diverse range of fishing opportunities. This 600-foot-long pier offers access to species such as snook, redfish, and trout. The pier is conveniently located near the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp and provides easy access for anglers launching their boats. With no access fee, it is a favored destination for both local fishermen and visitors.

5. Bokeelia Fishing Pier

Location: Bokeelia Fishing Pier, 6490 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia, FL 33922 Access Fee? Yes, a fee is required.

Located on the northern tip of Pine Island, the Bokeelia Fishing Pier is a prime spot for anglers targeting a variety of fish species, including snook, redfish, and sheepshead. Extending approximately 250 feet into Pine Island Sound, this pier offers picturesque views and excellent fishing opportunities. While an access fee is required, the pier provides amenities such as picnic tables and cleaning stations.

Book A Fishing Experience In Fort Myers

While fishing piers in Fort Myers offer a great way to quickly access the areas fisheries, hopping on a private fishing charter to access other areas away from the shoreline and crowds can be affordable and rewarding. Find and book your next fishing trip in Fort Myers with one of our local, professional fishing guides.

Updated on August 1, 2023

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yacht club fishing pier

Cape Coral making major changes to the Yacht Club Community Park

C ape Coral is moving ahead with massive design changes that will transform The Yacht Club Community Park into a more extravagant waterfront gem for the city.

It will include a new resort-style pool, restaurant, and community center in the master plan.

"I believe the draw will be a lot bigger than the Yacht Club used to be," Councilmember Dan Sheppard said.

The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which includes the yacht basin, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a ballroom, and a riverside beach, has served as a popular attraction and staple for the city since the 1960s.

At a Wednesday city meeting, the council discussed the Yacht Club master plan, picking up from a previous discussion at a January winter retreat .

There the council gave direction to adjust the original renovation plans, which could include a two-story ballroom, removing the tennis courts, and rearranging the area to accommodate a parking garage and a new restaurant.

Now the council has decided on a framework from the first concept that was presented by Kimley-Horn, a consulting firm that focuses on public and private developments.

Previous discussions said the project could cost up to $100 million.

The newly updated plans include:

  • A curved driveway into the park that wraps around the proposed parking garage and stormwater pond toward the east and south portions of the park
  • A three-story parking garage with 500 spaces
  • A new restaurant near the beach and entryway, supplementing the current waterside restaurant, The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Restaurant.
  • New restrooms
  • A resort-style pool
  • A new harbormaster building near boat trailer parking
  • A second pier with shade north of the park
  • A new Yacht Club Community Center
  • A stormwater pond
  • A new fountain

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said the changes will be utilized for the site plan.

Related Cape Coral aiming to reopen the Yacht Club beach area by Veterans Day

More Cape Coral news Despite objection by Cape Coral, challenge to removal of Chiquita Boat Lock advances

Yacht Club Background

The city had planned in 2022 to close the park for two years for renovations that included replacing the seawalls and marina wet slips, replacing the harbormaster building and boat ramp, and building a three-story parking garage and beach restrooms.

The beach would also be expanded, and utilities relocated.

Then Hurricane Ian struck on Sept. 28, 2022, delaying plans, and shuttering the beach for more than a year.

During its January winter retreat, council members decided to take a "clean slate" approach to renovate the facilities, which included demolition of all the facilities.

The facilities included the main ballroom building, the Tony Rotino Center, tennis courts, pool, and harbormaster.

Many residents opposed the plan but the city intends to move forward  with a complete demolition by early 2024.

Councilmembers raise concerns

James Pankonin, a landscape architect with Kimley-Horn, gave a presentation. He highlighted two concepts.

The second concept presented was similar to the first, but the road would be realigned and cut around the stormwater pond and parking garage, the proposed restaurant faced the main road, had a smaller pool design, and a longer pier.

Many of the elements were incorporated into the concept, minus the smaller pool.

Councilmember Tom Hayden, who was recently against the demolition of the main ballroom building, liked the plans.

"I realized after the original plans of wanting to renovate the old one weren't going to work out, I moved on. And I like the fact that we are bringing something to the community that will attract people that are interested in different things with the beach, resort pool, event space, and boating," Hayden said.

He wants to see a room dedicated to the old Yacht Club building in the new community center.

The council came to a consensus on many aspects of what the park would look like but many did have concerns with amenities such as parking, the tennis courts, and the pool.

Sheppard liked the plans but feared parking would become an issue.

"My only fear is we have nothing like this in the city and when this is done, I believe the draw will be a lot bigger than the Yacht Club used to be, so my concerns are parking," Sheppard said.

Hayden and Mayor John Gunter shared the concern.

The city plans to conduct a parking study to account for the potential issue.

Another Councilmember, Bill Steinke, wanted to see the tennis courts preserved.

"I play tennis at the Yacht Club very regularly, and we have a great number of residents that bought their homes in that area for proximity to tennis," Steinke said.

He brought up the possibility of using the parking garage's roof as an area for the tennis courts and, possibly, pickleball courts.

Gunter said the cost would be too high.

"I'd rather spend that money on parking or putting tennis courts somewhere," Gunter said.

Steinke relented if tennis courts could be made available in another part of the city, preferably in the south.

Steinke also brought the resort-style pool and said they should take into account how residents use it.

"The concern there is that we have many current residents that use the park and the swimming pool for exercise and lane swimming," Steinke said.

Councilmembers Patty Cummings and Jessica Cosden shared the sentiment and wanted to see another pool for the public.

Gunter ended the discussion by saying he wanted to see a timeline for the project.

Ilczyszyn said more activity will take place at the park soon, including the beach reopening and the demolition of the buildings. He's hopeful that permits will get through in due time.

What's next for Yacht Club Park?

The council will meet on the topic again, after the city's winter hiatus in 2024.

Kimley-Horn will update the designs with the council's feedback and have a public meeting where residents will get to look at the new concept before moving forward with a permanent design.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral making major changes to the Yacht Club Community Park

Concept art presented by Kimley-Horn at a Committee of the Whole meeting on Nov. 8, 2023.

May we recommend

Live webcams, #myfortmyers moments, plan your trip, digital visitor guide, yacht club beach.

Located on the Caloosahatchee River in Cape Coral, the Yacht Club Community Park Beach is now open with limited amenities. The Boathouse Restaurant sits right next to the beach is also open. The pier, and Yacht Club facilities remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Ian.

Note:   Pardon the dust. Demolition of the main ballroom building, the Tony Rotino Center, tennis courts, pool, and Harbormaster's building...

Note:   Pardon the dust. Demolition of the main ballroom building, the Tony Rotino Center, tennis courts, pool, and Harbormaster's building is expected to begin in Dec/Jan 2023. Fencing will surround the Yacht Club's facilities as work is being done and should have little to no impact on the beach or its parking.

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5819 Driftwood Pkwy Cape Coral , FL 33904 United States

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Bayside Park Pier — Chula Vista

Last modified: January 19, 2024

yacht club fishing pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required

Sometimes things stick in your mind. Hopefully for a pier it is the memory of a great day or a memorable fish. Not so with this pier. Instead, it concerns a couple of events that took place one day while I was hoppin’ from pier to pier. I had started at the Ferry Landing Pier, gone to the Imperial Beach Pier, and was now planning on visiting this pier. But first I stopped for a pre-pier meal at a local hamburger joint.

Soon after, two less than memorable events happened that unfortunately have remained in my memory all these years. I was finishing my meal when a gentleman (?), who appeared to be in his early to mid-30s, sat down a couple of tables away. He proceeded to eat his lunch and then, in a cavalier manner, took out his teeth, his false teeth, and began to clean them with a napkin. I will give him this, he was meticulous. And, I guess if you’re not going to floss this would certainly work. But it wasn’t the most enjoyable vision if you know what I mean.

Then, as I left, I noticed that a car had parked next to my truck, parked about six inches away from the side of my truck. Nothing so unusual there except that there were about thirty parking spaces and these two vehicles were the only ones in the parking lot. Some reason why the driver couldn’t have parked in another spot? Duh! Unfortunately I didn’t realize till later that there was a small dent on the passenger side door of my truck. People!

yacht club fishing pier

Looking toward San Diego

Environment . This pier, located near the Chula Vista Marina, is small and rarely receives the pressure from crowds that other area piers experience. The reason, as is generally the case when there is little angling pressure, is that fishing here is often fairly slow. The pier is located near the south end of San Diego Bay in an industrial area that at one time offered little sport; today it attempts to accommodate recreational needs as well as business needs, and it does an admirable job. To be honest, the park receives the main thrust of use by visitors but the pier itself is a regular destination by locals of all ages.

The pier, often called the J Street Pier by local anglers, sits at the entrance to the Chula Vista Marina and with its solid, concrete wall under the pier provides protection for the boats and slips in the marina. It reminds me very much of the Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay.

Anglers are offered three areas to fish: the inner waters that sit between the pier and the boat slips, the end of the pier that fronts the channel into the marina, and the outer wall of the pier. The latter is where most anglers fish although many of the locals like to fish in the channel at the end of the pier.

yacht club fishing pier

The outer wall

Most of the water is fairly shallow and the bottom here is mud and sand. The most common catch are species that prefer this environment. Expect the typical bay species—white croaker, queenfish, topsmelt, jacksmelt, diamond turbot, perch, halibut, guitarfish, bat rays, round stingray, smoothhound sharks and a few leopard sharks. Needlefish are a common sight and will often molest the baits but few are caught. Bonefish are a regular catch for those using the right bait. Pelagic species, including mackerel and bonito, may make an appearance so anglers should come with a variety of baits.

yacht club fishing pier

A black croaker taken from the inside waters of the pier in October 2021 on bloodworms.

The inside waters of the pier, between the boat slips and the pier is shallower and offers up a mud and eelgrass covered bottom that is a little tougher to fish. Although fewer people fish this area some do try for bass, bay bass (spotted bay bass), sand bass and various croakers.

yacht club fishing pier

Spotted Bay Bass caught by Ray619 in January 2024 on a Wham Minnow fished near the eel grass.

Fishing Tips . For best results use bloodworms or ghost shrimp on the bottom for turbot, blackperch, white seaperch, pileperch, barred sand bass, bay bass (spotted sand bass), yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker and black croaker (China croaker). Use a high/low leader and size 6 or 4 baitholder hooks if using worms, size 4 or 2 Kahle hooks if using ghost shrimp. Ghost shrimp is undoubtedly the best bait if you’re trying to catch a bonefish.

For halibut, use live anchovies or small smelt on a Carolina rigging if you can net or snag some live bait. Use frozen or salted anchovies if live bait is unavailable. If using live bait you may also be able to hook onto one of the shortfin corvina that hang out in this area.

For sharks and rays, squid or cut mackerel with a Carolina-type rigging seem to works best. If you wish to try for large guitarfish or bat rays, remember to use a heavier line and have a way to bring them onto the deck. However, it is possible here to walk larger fish down to the end of the pier and bring them onto the rocks that edge the park (although you may be crossing a lot of lines along the way). Unfortunately, since the pier closes at night, the best time to fish for the rays and sharks is lost.

Since it isn’t usually too crowded, artificial lures can also be tried here (especially in the inner waters). Best bets would be soft plastic lures such as Scampi, Scroungers, Fish Traps, etc., or grub-like lures. Freshen the lures with a small strip of squid or cover the lure with a gel or spray attractant (and some new grubs come impregnated with scents already in them). I’m also told (see the E-Mail messages below) that Krocodiles work well at times.

On one visit I observed a group of large striped mullet ( Mugil cephalus ), most in excess of three feet in length, were swimming back and forth around the pier. No one on the pier, myself included, tried to catch them. Since then I have seen mullet fishermen catch mullet at the mouth of the San Diego River using large-hook snag-lines and multi-hook leaders baited with dough balls. I don’t know if the dough balls would work here but it would be interesting to find out.

yacht club fishing pier

<*}}}}}}}}}>< —  This pier offers up one of the best places for a “pier rat” to catch a bonefish. Fish survey studies done by the Fish and Game (now Wildlife) personnel show bonefish as a common catch at this pier. It is the only California pier that shows bonefish as a regular catch.

<*}}}}}}}}}>< — The pier was the site of one of the earliest forays by United Pier and Shore Anglers of California into the world of kid’s fishing derbies. Since then UPSAC has been involved in dozens of such kid’s fishing tournaments but none at this pier.

Young Anglers Fishing Tournament

Chula Vista— More than 50 youngsters, most with their families, spent yesterday at the Chula Vista Bayside Park Pier for the International Game Fish Association’s Young Anglers Fishing Tournament.

A lot of people talk about getting America’s youth more involved in the outdoors, but this fishing day came courtesy of a group of individuals who are putting their time, money and energy into doing just that. It was the third successful tournament—second this summer—sponsored by the IGFA, the San Diego Sportfishing Council and the Unified Port of San Diego…

Fishing was slow, but kids won prizes for their catches (all released) and took home more good stuff from the raffle.

LeJuan Mayfield, 15, won his age division and the overall tournament with a couple of bass and a stingray. Mayfield won an IGFA certificate, a Maxima hat, a West Marine bag filled with goodies, a Zebco rod and reel set and a half-day trip for two on the Fisherman III out of H&M Landing. Mayfield’s name will be etched on the tournament’s perpetual trophy, a wood carving of a giant hook by hardwood sculptor David Wirth of Temecula. The trophy will be displayed at the nearby Chula Vista Yacht Club, which provided lunch for the kids.

Other age-group winners won hats, IGFA certificates and gift certificates from Target or Wal-Mart. They included: Conner Logan, 3 years old, who won an orange Capt. Nemo cap; Wesley Runyan, 6; Tanner Engen, 7; Joseph Busalacchi, 8; Samantha Pineda, 9; Sabrina O’Neal, 10; Erin Williams, 11; Gavin Fillmore, 12; Colin Masters, 13; Anita Byra, 14.

Schoolteacher Sherrie Jancasz, who has a fishing club at Arroyo Vista Elementary in Chula Vista called “The Astonishing Anglers of Arroyo Vista,” received a special award—a hat that says “Captain”—for her dedication to young fishermen.

Other volunteers at the event included Catherine Miller of the San Diego Sportfishing Council and Tom Withers; Jack Innis, Michael Campbell and Bill Fusselman of the IGFA; Commodore Linda Whipple, social chairman Pat Upton and power fleet captain Donna Sorensen, with her husband Al, all of the Chula Vista Yacht Club; Garth Hansen, Rod Mina, Rich and Tammy Reano and Rebecca and Adam Cassidy, all of the United Pier and Shore Anglers of California.

—Ed Zieralski , Outdoors, San Diego Union-Tribune , August 29, 2004

<*}}}}}}}}}>< — An interesting place to visit, especially if you have kids with you, is the nearby Living Coast Discovery Center. It has interesting displays on both the local fish and other wildlife in the area. For more information: http://www.thelivingcoast.org

yacht club fishing pier

The Pier Rats Speak

Date: March 27, 1999; To: Ken Jones; From: Norm D; Subject: Bayshore Shore Pier—Chula Vista

So you need a reporter for Bay Shore Pier; here I am. Last week the smelt were running during the day…a few way-undersized Halibut. But at night…if you’re into sharks, I was able to catch a guitarfish…not a bad size either. But seem to be pestered by bat rays…. fun to catch… but I personally don’t have a need for them. Did seem to hook one good-size halibut… but it was a line cutter… bummer. Saw quite a few guys in boats (in the bay) drifting for halibut. Some of the nights have been nice and calm… some of the days have been pretty windy. Going to try my luck this weekend. Will write and let you know. By the way… THANKS for the having your cool web site. It really helps a lot as to know where the fish are biting. Norm — Chula Vista

Norm, Thanks for the information and you’re now the reporter for the pier. By the way, how do you fish the pier at night? I thought they closed the park at night? Best wishes, Ken

  Ken, We park down by the marina and walk to the pier they only bother you if your parked inside the park. Norm

Date: April 25, 1999; To: Ken Jones; From: Norm D; Subject: J St Pier – Chula Vista

  Was out for a while and saw a few needlefish and sand sharks caught but saw something a little different by the rocks —bonito jumping out of the water chasing bait fish around. Quite a few of them made things look a little promising for the future.

Date: January 2, 2002; To: Ken Jones; From: Basfishing; Subject: Bayshore Park Pier

I went fishing on this pier a couple of days before Christmas. We didn’t catch many fish. I caught a nice-sized bass, and my brother a bunch of smelts. But we were staying at the RV Park right at the pier. So we were able to fish anytime we wanted. Even after the parked closed. We went out there every night at like 8 and stayed till 11 or 12. I don’t know what you would consider good fishing, but I think we had pretty good fishing. Mostly for rays and sharks. We used dead anchovies either on the bottom or a little off. We were fishing at the end of the pier. The left side seemed best. Casting straight out from the end. Not to the sides. My brother caught about a 3-foot shark, and a very little baby. He also caught a baby stingray. My brother Chris only went out for two nights and he caught a nice-sized bat ray (maybe 15-20 pounds). I caught about a 10-pound bat ray and the first night I caught what must have been a nice 30-40 pound bat ray. It took off running for about 100 yards or so and jumped. I don’t know if rays can jump but this one did something of that sort. And it took about 10 minutes to bring him in. We couldn’t get him up because he was too big, and we didn’t have anything to bring him up with. Also my brother who was using 20-pound test used a jacksmelt that he caught as bait. He didn’t get any bites while it was alive so when it was dead, we cut open the stomach to let it bleed a little. That’s when he got one bite. The fish slowly took the bait and his Ugly Stik slowly bent. He tried to pick the pole up off the rail, but he couldn’t. It was too heavy. My brother isn’t a small person, either, he’s pretty big. But he couldn’t lift it up, and the line finally snapped. I don’t know if you would call if good fishing, but it was really fun. If you go there at night, have at least 20-pound test and loosen your drag. I think the only reason that we were able to fish is because we didn’t have to park in the lot, because we were in the RV park, and they said if you don’t make too much noise, no one is going to bother you. You should try it out sometime if you already haven’t. Thanks for the tips in your book also. Very helpful.

Date: August 28, 2004; To: PFIC Message Board; From: fishingrod; Subject: Bayside Park Pier

The kid’s fishing contest was a success and UPSAC was well represented by Rich, Tammy, Adam, Rebecca, Garth and his daughter Elise. We set up all of the tackle, prepared the bait and helped out with the scoring. Not a lot of fish were caught but there were a variety of fish around including yellowfin croaker, leopard sharks, round stingrays, smelt, bass and a controversial mis-ID of a croaker which was scored as a corbina by an IGFA official (go figure). Everyone had a great time and our help was much need and appreciated. Thanks for all of those who showed up and contributed their time to help out the kids.

Posted by corbinaman1

Nice to help the kids learn fishing … surprising that a Yellowfin Croaker was misidentified as a Corbina by an IGFA official! Sounds like a fun day with some fun catches.

Posted by garth

The IGFA guys are mostly big-fish boat guys. Most of the people I was talking with had…difficulties…tying a hi/lo rig! I did a lot of untangling, knot tying, bait cutting and casting instruction, as did the other fellas from UPSAC/PFIC.

It was weird, after getting lost, driving around for a while, finding it, and getting into the flow of helping out, it was pretty much like a normal day at the pier, as in helping all the kids. I normally do that anyways, so it was cool. Elise had a good time, even though Rod put a little pressure on her, saying “My money’s on you!” They gave out prizes by age group, and Elise, being in the 11 year old group, had a good shot, but could only come up with a smallish stingray. Lots of those guys came up. Elise wasted some time targeting what Rich figured was a mullet cruising the shore. We also spotted what might have been a corvina? It looked like a longish croaker, but had a forked tail. Rich thought it was a bonefish, based on my description.

I gotta hand it to the IFGA, the Yacht Club, and everyone else who organized it, that was some good stuff gathered together. Though next time they should back off and let UPSAC ID the fish! That’s what we do, ya know. They had some truly good hot dogs (rare!) and some nice prizes for the raffle and age-group winners. Elise won a Maxima hat in the raffle, she was very pleased with that.

Bayside Park Pier extends out into the harbor across an inlet to a spot where a bunch of boats are moored, and has a big concrete wall on one side to keep any wave action away from the boats. The other side is open. It’s about 150′ long or so and you can cover most of the area, all the way to the other side, off of it. There is some eel grass around it, but not too bad. The pier is a little hard to cast off of because the railings are set back from the edge of the pier, leaving some concrete to negotiate on one side, and big wooden beams on the boat side. There was tons of bait in the water (and one Baitfish on the pier). I asked Elise why she didn’t Sabiki up some smelt, and she said “I thought it would be cheating, because no one else knew how to do it…” She’s sweet. Well, all in all, I’d definitely do it again. I’m thinking we should get something together like this up in Oceanside. That’s a big ol’ pier. Hmmmm…

Date: September 3, 2003; To: PFIC Message Board; From: SDBrian; Subject: Bayside Park Pier

Fished from 11am till 4pm. Rigs using were Hi/Low with a squid strips and 1/2 ‘chovies. On the slider I was using mussels. Not much action going on. I caught one YFC on the ‘chovie, and a small ray on the squid. But one of my friends caught a mullet on a half ‘chovie. I have never seen that. I have only seen people catch mullet by sagging them. Weird.

Date: October 21, 2013; To: Ken Jones; From: mav; Subject: Tips on fishing Chula Vista Marina (J Street) Pier

  I feel bad that you didn’t get anything there the last time… That pier is the closest to me so I do a lot of “fun” fishing there.. For a pier it’s rather high on the difficulty level to fish but when you know what’s there, structure wise, it improves your odds…

I usually fish plastics on this pier but if you have ghost shrimp you have a small chance at catching bone fish… With ghost shrimp, you want to fish the shallow sand flats facing west from the time frame from early morning till after noon.. During the fternoon it gets WAY too windy to fish… It’s next to impossible to feel any bites..

The two artificial lures that I fish on this pier are plastics and a chrome 5/8 krocodile… I try to fish on an incoming or outgoing high tide. I only use the Krocodile in late spring when there are still a lot of baitfish in the water… For plastics, I use mainly motor oil or white grubs and swim baits resembling smelt or lizardfish… First spot facing east… You want to throw your bait behind that last boat closest to shore… There’s a steep drop off there where predators like to hang out… I’ve caught Spotted Bay Bass, Halibut, and Corvina behind there… That’s the honey hole.. Next you want to continue to walk up a little and throw parallel to the pier close to the ladder on the west side (along the wall)… I’ve CnRd some nice sized spotties there. When you reach the ladder cast out west in a fan pattern because there are rocks out there where spotties hold. Then switch sides and cast out east in a fan pattern behind the boats and work your way up to the last boat.. I usually get fish (spotties/ short halibut) next to the last boat… Next you can fish the main channel at the end.. I’ve heard of large halibut taken there with live bait but I’ve never caught anything, not even once… Again, work your way down on the west side casting parallel to the pier again… Again, large spotties here… Finally, when you get back to the sand flats on the west side near shore, throw a white grub or kroc… I’ve CnRd corvina on these flats and it’s worth a try… That’s my Chula Vista pier routine but it can vary a little.. During years when there are a lot of eel grass on the west side in low light conditions, you can “burn” a swim bait over the grass and get hit by medium small spotties… Mostly short but still fun…

yacht club fishing pier

History Note . The name Chula Vista comes from chula, a Mexican word meaning ‘pretty’ or ‘attractive,’ and the Spanish word for ‘view.’ The town was laid out and named by the San Diego Land and Town Company in 1888.

The six-acre Bayside Park itself was dedicated on November 19, 1982. An expansion adding three additional acres of parkland and beach was completed in 1987.

Bayside Park Pier Facts

  Hours: The park is open from 6:30 A.M. till 10:30 P.M.

Facilities: The park features picnic areas, game tables, open space for play and biking and walking paths. Restrooms are near the entrance to the pier. Free parking is adjacent in the landscaped park parking lot. The Chula Vista RV Park is east of the park behind the fence that surrounds the park.

Handicapped Facilities: Handicapped parking (2 marked stalls) and restrooms. The pier surface is cement, the rail height is 43 inches and it is posted for handicapped.

  Location: X 33.654959222951774 N. Latitude, 118.004150390625 W. Longitude

  How To Get There: From I-5 take the J Street off ramp and go west. Take J Street to Tidelands Ave., turn right. Take Tidelands to Sandpiper Way, turn right. Take Sandpiper to Bayside Parkway, turn left and follow the road to the park.

Management: City of Chula Vista.

7 Responses

I Fish the J Street Pier often usually catch multiple small spotted Bay Bass with most between 8 and 10 inches long its pretty rare to catch a bass of legal size here today i caught a 31 inch Halibut on top water at dead low tide

I got 23 bass the other day on artificials easy… can be great at times, also can be horrible. Fished there today and was the only one on the whole pier who got anything.. little 10 inch bass.

Is the pier open to fish today. And if not when will it be open 

The pier is not open due to the corona virus shutdown. There is no way to know when it will reopen.

are there any lobster there ?

I remember fishing there with my NAVY brother Mike please good times.. great place for fishing and yes they have lobsters and oysters right there off that pier

Amazing article . Continue the good work this article was very helpful!

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COMMENTS

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