Rickenbacker Fishing Pier

In 2011, the West Fishing Pier was demolished
SFI demolished the existing Rickenbacker Causeway West Fishing Pier (approximately 1,750 LF), and deployed the concrete materials into the Biscayne Bay to create an underwater artificial reef.

This place is beautiful. I love it. I’m not fishing though so I can’t tell you if the fish here are plenty. However this is a good place just to chill. We’re here now shooting a music video and there are other people conducting a photo shoot. I’m sure you probably need a permit but we don’t have one and there was a Miami Dade official that didn’t say anything to us. Also there’s plenty of parking. This is such a hidden gem.

I have mixed reviews about this pier. I want to give it a 3 but I will go with a 2.5. I have been coming here for years and years. This pier for the most part is not regulated by Florida Fish and Wildlife. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to abide by fishing regulations. Miami and Miami Dade PD enforce the parking which is limited so make sure you find a parking spot and don’t park in the street because you will be fined.
The pier it self is pretty long. It’s longer in distance than any other pier in South Florida except the channels in the Key’s. It extends about 5 blocks out, you see this pier used to be the old bridge before the Rickenbacker was built. It’s open 24 hours and your able to bring refreshments and food on to the pier. They don’t sell bait and there is no fee to fish it’s free to the public. The pier can be «dirty» if you go to fish then your going to be ok. However, there are several homeless people in the pier who wonder in asking for change. I can deal with that. There are also several people who camp over night waiting for the current to change or the tide or for certain type of fish that can be caught better at night. The one thing I don’t like is that although while the county has several garbage bins on the pier. People still throw there used bait on the floor or trash which can cause the place to have a fishy smell. To be it doesn’t matter because your fishing in my mind your going to smell fish. However, some people may have a problem with it. The county only comes during the day to pick up trash and clean. Maybe once or twice a day, but at night they don’t come at all.
The fishing it self has died out during the years due to over fishing. Many people don’t obey fishing regulations and take under sized fish home. So unless it season for a current fish what you will catch are mainly grunts. During snapper season you can find Mutton and Mangrove at the middle of the pier if you cast far.
During the day if you free line or use bobbles you can fish for Spanish Mackerel or Barracuda. There are always black tip sharks in the area as well.
All in all for the most part, I come to this fishing pier mainly during a certain species season for that specific fish. If not I go elsewhere.