As a state almost entirely surrounded by water, Florida has an abundance of fishing spots. It’s no wonder that so many angling records are set and broken here practically every year. If you find yourself in the Boca Raton area, you might wonder where you can catch a fish for the record books. Make sure you check out one of these fishing spots and who knows what you’ll find at the end of your line!
Boca Raton Intracoastal Canal
As one of the most popular fishing spots, the Boca Raton Intracoastal Canal is home to numerous types of fish. Don’t be surprised if you take away a huge haul of jacks, tarpon, mangrove snapper, barracuda, and even sharks. You can cast your line from the shore, but you might have better luck via a boat. Offshore fishing is plentiful if you know where to look, so head to structures such as docks and sea walls or those near trees.
Boca Step Reef and Red Reef
In 2018, Boca Raton received a new offshore habitat for fish at the Boca Step and Red Reef. The county constructed four artificial reefs by dropping 530 tons of white rocks about 35 feet under the surface near the Boca Raton Inlet. Although not close enough for you to fish from the shore as they’re about a half-mile from the beach, you can kayak or canoe out to the reef and cast your line to catch barracuda, bluefish, bonito, and mangrove snapper. Just be careful because people like to snorkel in the area as well.
James A. Rutherford Park
Head to the entrance of this 45-acre park at 600 NE 24th St. anytime from 8 a.m. until sunset to catch your share of fish. It sits on the eastern side of the Intracoastal waterway. The city plans a $1.38 million renovation of the park including new kayak ramps, a fishing pier, and a renovated boardwalk.
Take your rowboat, canoe, or kayak to the mangroves and travel throughout Lake Wyman. Another option is to fish directly in the water or from swimming areas along the 2-mile beach. The park has a boat ramp, so you can launch your boat directly into the waterway. You can also paddle out and fish along the areas of the Intracoastal. The waters are full of blue runners, trout, snook, and jacks.
Lake Boca Raton
This saltwater lake is fed by multiple tributaries that have direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. Take a boat out on the waters and you might encounter tarpons, snooks, and jacks. Due to the fluctuating tides, the fish are constantly moving in and out of these waterways, enhancing your chances of landing a few fish. If you want to head out further, this lake connects to the Intracoastal waterway and gives you access to charter fishing and party boat fishing.
Red Reef Park
This 67-acre oceanfront park is a perfect spot to fish as it gives you stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Located at 1400 N. State Road A1A, Red Reef Park has operating hours that run from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., so if you want to head out after sundown, this is the place to go. Parking is $2 an hour on weekdays and $3 an hour on the weekends with a four-hour maximum.
Take your kayak or canoe and ease out into the water on the Intracoastal Waterway on the eastern side of the park, and make your way to the mangroves as fish tend to gather there. Some of the more popular fish you can catch in this area include barracuda, bluefish, blue runners, bonito, and mangrove snapper. If you prefer, you can fish on the ocean side of the park alongside the beach. Just make sure to stay out of designated swimming spots as you cannot fish in those areas.
Silver Palm Park
Located at 600 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Silver Palm Park is a 3.7-acre park that sits at the base of the Palmetto Park Bridge. If you have your own boat, you can use one of its two boat launches and head out toward Lake Boca Raton and the Atlantic Ocean. The city approved a project to add a boat launch and washing station as well as a fish cleaning area. This park has also hosted the annual Boca Raton Fishing Festival.
South Inlet Park
This peaceful park is located at 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., which is just south of the Boca Inlet. Head to the park from sunrise to sunset, and try to catch some fish. Parking is $3 each hour during the week and $4 an hour on the weekend. Popular spots to cast a line for shore fishing include areas around the jetties. If you’re unfamiliar with the park, keep in mind that although the surf is amazing to watch, it can crash into the rocks with enough force to knock you down.
Yamato Park
Before 2004, Yamato Park was known as Japanese Rock and is relatively easy to locate. Travel to Spanish River Boulevard and take it all the way until you run into the beach. Its official address is 3001 N. State Road A1A and is open from 8 a.m. until sunset daily. Parking is a bit pricey at $16 on weekdays and $18 on weekends, but if you plan to spend the entire day fishing, the cost is worth it.
Once you park your vehicle, cross onto the beach and head north until you can see the rocks. You probably won’t be the only person shore fishing, as it’s a relatively popular location. Some common types of fish that you might catch include ladyfish, snapper, jacks, tarpons, and pompanos.
What did you think of this list of best places to go fishing in Boca Raton? Are you ready to head out and catch a few fish? Or do you have a favorite location that we forgot to include? If so, make sure you reach out to us at Titan Funding so we can add it to our list.