Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park

Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The piers are lighted and quite popular because of the variety of fish that can be caught including perch, striped bass, croakers, sea trout, and catfish. Both the Talbot County and Dorchester County sections of the piers are lighted for night fishing from April 1st through December 31st, and the Dorchester County side of the pier is open and lighted year round. The pier adjoins Sailwinds Park via the walkway under the bridge.

On July 22, 2009 the Board of Public Works approved re-naming The Choptank River Fishing Piers to Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park in honor of Bill Burton, a reporter, writer and fisherman who has for more than 50 years chronicled outdoor opportunities for Maryland citizens. Mr. Burton was instrumental in preserving the Bridge for a fishing pier when the new bridge was constructed.

Pet Policy

Pets are allowed in Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park in the following areas:

• Pets are allowed on trails in the undeveloped areas
• Pets are prohibited on the fishing piers

Features

• Fishing and Crabbing are the main attractions. The fishing pier is accessible and offers accessible port-a-pots. For additional accessible amenities in Maryland State Forests and Parks, visit the Accessibility For All section of this website.
  --Click here for up to date fishing reports
  --Click here for updated tide tables
  --Please be sure to obey all tidal recreational fisheries regulations.
  --Click here to learn about obtaining a fishing license.
• Walking and Bicycling. The Talbot County side offers 25 acres of land extending upriver from the pier and there is a walking path along the Choptank River and Bolingbroke Creek. The Talbot side of the pier is one mile in length and the Dorchester side of the pier is ½ mile in length. Pets are allowed on trails in the undeveloped areas; pets are prohibited on the fishing piers for sanitary and safety reasons.
• Wildlife Observation. The piers are excellent observation areas for waterfowl. Birders are likely to see osprey, Canada geese and a variety of ducks and shorebirds. Along the walking paths, everything from deer to muskrats can be seen at different times throughout the year.
• Fishing Derby. The Annual Bill Burton Youth Fishing Derby is held each year. The Derby for 2012 is tentatively scheduled for early June.
• Picnicking. Picnic tables are available for visitors on the Bill Burton Fishing Piers and also in the meadow fo the Talbot County side of the Piers.

To maintain and ensure a safe, family-oriented outdoor recreation experience for all park guests, the Maryland Park Service regulates the consumption of alcohol in State Parks. Please note that the consumption of alcohol at the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is prohibited. Click here for more information on this policy.

Location - The piers are located adjacent to Maryland Route 50 at the Frederick C. Malkus Bridge near Cambridge on the Eastern Shore. The piers are the previous Choptank River Bridge over the Choptank between Talbot and Dorchester counties.

The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park
29761 Bolingbroke Point Drive
Trappe, MD 21673
410-820-1668

Photograph by: Tom Darden