Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park consists of approximately 25 acres of park property including about one mile of trails. The trails and shoreline are open from sunrise to sunset. The Dorchester side of the fishing pier is open from 7am - sunset everyday except Christmas. The Talbot side of the pier is open from 7am - sunset everyday except Christmas and is also closed from January 1st - March 31st. The piers are quite popular because of the variety of fish that can be caught including perch, striped bass, croakers, sea trout, and catfish. 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. The consumption of alcohol at the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is prohibited.
Fishing and Crabbing
Fishing and crabbing are the main attractions. The fishing pier is accessible and offers accessible port-a-pots.
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.
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.
