Lemon Bay Fishing
Charlotte County and Sarasota County, FWC Charlotte Harbor region.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Gasparilla Public Pier: Sanibel sun, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fishing Lemon Bay
Lemon Bay, part of the Charlotte Harbor system, lies in Charlotte County and Sarasota County. Census mapping puts its named open water at about 8 square miles. Inshore rules on Lemon Bay are set for the FWC Charlotte Harbor region.
Lemon Bay has 10 public fishing piers within 14 miles and 14 saltwater boat ramps within 10. FWC has logged 67 artificial reef deployments within 20 miles, mostly concrete, at depths of 3 to 61 feet.
Piers, ramps and reefs around Lemon Bay
FWC Fishing Pier Finder, Boat Ramp Inventory and Artificial Reef layer, checked October 2026.
No boat? Try these near Lemon Bay
Piers on Lemon Bay
- Chadwick ParkLemon Bay, 1 mile
- Anger Fishing Pier ParkGasparilla Sound, 1 mile
- Cherokee Street ParkLemon Bay, 3 miles
- Centennial Fishing PierCoral Creek, 8 miles
- Placida Rotary Centennial ParkGasparilla Sound, 8 miles
- Myakka Fishing PierPeace River, 8 miles
- Boca Grande Fishing Pier ParkGasparilla Sound, 9 miles
- Gasparilla Public PierGasparilla Sound, 12 miles
- Venice Municipal FishingGulf of Mexico, 13 miles
- Blue Ridge ParkBlueridge Waterway, 13 miles
Surf access by Lemon Bay
- Stump Pass Beach State Parkparking, restrooms, under a mile
- Englewood Beach at Chadwick Parkparking, restrooms, 1 mile
- Blind Pass Parkparking, restrooms, 4 miles
- Manasota Beachparking, restrooms, 8 miles
- Caspersen Beachparking, restrooms, 11 miles
Ramps serving Lemon Bay
- Oyster Creek Environmental Park Kayak Launchpaddle launch, free, under a mile
- Ainger Creek Park Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, free, 24 trailer spaces, portable toilet, under a mile
- Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Park Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, free, portable toilet, 2 miles
- Dr. Willard ""Bill"" Coy Preserve Kayak Accesspaddle launch, free, 4 trailer spaces, 3 miles
- Indian Mound Park – Paddlecraft Launchpaddle launch, free, flush toilet, 3 miles
- Indian Mound Park – Boat Ramp4 lane ramp, free, 36 trailer spaces, flush toilet, 3 miles
- Cherokee Street County Park – Kayak Accesspaddle launch, free, 3 miles
- Blind Pass Beach Park Kayak Access Southpaddle launch, free, flush toilet, 4 miles
- Blind Pass Beach Park Kayak Access Northpaddle launch, free, flush toilet, 4 miles
- Lemon Bay Park Paddlecraft Launchpaddle launch, free, flush toilet, 4 miles
- Placida Park Boat Ramp5 lane ramp, free, 50 trailer spaces, portable toilet, 7 miles
- Manasota Beach Park Boat Ramp2 lane ramp, free, 40 trailer spaces, flush toilet, 8 miles
- Eldred's Marina Boat Ramp2 lane ramp, fee, 40 trailer spaces, 8 miles
- Manasota Beach Park Kayak Accesspaddle launch, free, flush toilet, 8 miles
Reefs within reach of Lemon Bay
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Material | Deployed | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manasota Key Mitigation (Reef B) | 21 | rock | 2021 | 1 mile |
| Englewood Fish Haven | 22 | concrete | 1960 | 1 mile |
| Manasota Key Mitigation (Reef A) | 21 | rock | 2021 | 2 miles |
| M-14 | 45 | concrete | 1992 | 7 miles |
| Stump Pass 7 Mile Reef | 42 | concrete | 1992 | 7 miles |
| M-14 | 43 | concrete | 7 miles | |
| Novak Reef 04-Buoy#1 | 30 | concrete | 2004 | 8 miles |
| Novak Reef 04-Buoy#1 | 30 | concrete | 2004 | 8 miles |
FWC artificial reef deployments within 20 miles of Lemon Bay; site coordinates are in the FWC reef layer. Florida reefs by county.
Where Lemon Bay meets the ocean
- Stump Passinlet, 2 miles
- Gasparilla Passinlet, 8 miles
- Boca Grandeinlet, 15 miles
- South Jetty Parkjetty, 15 miles
- Humphris Parkjetty, 15 miles
FWC FWRI inlets and passes layer and OpenStreetMap jetties.
Limits for Lemon Bay
Regional rules (Charlotte Harbor) and statewide limits.
| Species | Bag | Size | Season | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | 1 a day | 18-27 in. TL | Open year-round | Charlotte Harbor Region |
| Snook | 1 a day | 28-33 in. TL | Closed December 1 – end of February, and May 1 – September 30 | Charlotte Harbor Region |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 a day | 15-19 in. TL | Open year-round | Charlotte Harbor Region |
| Flounder | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | Closed annually Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 | Statewide |
| Sheepshead | 8 a day | 12 in minimum | Open year-round | Statewide |
| Black drum | 5 a day | 14-24 in. with one fish over 24 in. | Open year-round | Statewide |
| Florida pompano | 6 a day | 11 in minimum | Open year-round | Statewide |
| Spanish mackerel | 15 a day | 12 in minimum | Open year-round | Statewide |
| Gray snapper | 5 a day | 10 in minimum | Open year-round | Gulf and Atlantic state waters |
| Cobia | 1 a day | 36 in minimum | Open year round | Statewide |
| Tarpon | catch and release | none | Catch-and-release year-round | Statewide |
FWC saltwater regulations as posted October 2026. Federal water rules differ. Full Florida limits.
Who to call about Lemon Bay
Charlotte County and Sarasota County guides
- A Beach Fishing Adventuresinshore, Sarasota, (941) 379-4422
- A Captain Charlie Fishinginshore, Sarasota, (941) 266-0081
- A Legacy of Fishinginshore, Venice, (941) 473-4603
- A Rodbender Fishing Chartersinshore, Sarasota, (941) 320-8171
- Adventure Chartersinshore, Sarasota, (941) 371-1390
- Alpha & Omega Chartersinshore, Port Charlotte, (941) 255-3551
- Am Chartersinshore, Nokomis, (941) 786-5608
- Another Keeper Chartersinshore, Englewood, (941) 830-2566
Where to buy bait near Lemon Bay
- Skips Placida Marina'marina, Englewood, under a mile
- The Bait House at Manasota Key Marinamarina, Englewood, 1 mile
- Chadwick Cove Marina & Resortmarina, Englewood, 1 mile
- DockOar Fishing Chartersbait and tackle, Englewood, 1 mile
- Stump Pass Marinamarina, Englewood, 1 mile
- Ez Dock Marine Incmarina, Englewood, 2 miles
Near Lemon Bay
Towns near Lemon Bay
- Englewood3 miles
- North Port13 miles
- Venice14 miles
- Port Charlotte15 miles
Other water near Lemon Bay
- Gasparilla Sound10 miles southeast
- Roberts Bay (Venice)15 miles northwest
- Charlotte Harbor16 miles southeast
- Matlacha Pass22 miles southeast
Lemon Bay by county
Piscifun reels and a scale grip
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Quick answers for Lemon Bay
How do I find Lemon Bay?
Charlotte County and Sarasota County, which FWC puts in its Charlotte Harbor region.
What size redfish can I keep on Lemon Bay?
1 a day, 18-27 in. TL.
Is there pier fishing on Lemon Bay?
10 piers within 14 miles, closest Chadwick Park.
Is there a boat ramp on Lemon Bay?
Oyster Creek Environmental Park Kayak Launch is the closest of 14 open saltwater ramps.
Are there artificial reefs near Lemon Bay?
Yes, 67 deployments sit within 20 miles.
Can I fish Lemon Bay without a license?
A Florida saltwater license, $17 a year for residents, unless exempt.
What are the snook rules on Lemon Bay?
Snook in the Charlotte Harbor region close December 1 – end of February, and May 1 – September 30; the slot is 28-33 in. TL.
Who guides on Lemon Bay?
88 guides list a home port in Charlotte County and Sarasota County.
What is the closest pass to Lemon Bay?
Closest: Stump Pass, Gasparilla Pass and Boca Grande.
For the redfish herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99