Alsdorf Park Fishing

Alsdorf Park is Pompano Beach's boat-launch park on the Intracoastal Waterway, a short run south of Hillsboro Inlet, and the city lists fishing among its facilities. The inlet keeps the water clean and the current moving, which is what the fish here follow.

• Waterfront on the Intracoastal where the launch basin opens onto the waterway
• Snook, mangrove snapper, jacks and sheepshead most of the year
• Restrooms, picnic areas, a playground and ADA access
• A short, flat walk from the parking lot, so it suits a quick session

Alsdorf Park is at 2901 NE 14th Street in Pompano Beach, on the north side of the NE 14th Street Causeway where it meets the Intracoastal Waterway. It is run by the City of Pompano Beach.

• Getting there: take NE 14th Street east toward the beach; the park is on the north side just before the Intracoastal bridge
• Parking: the park's lot serves the boat launch; follow the posted parking rules
• Hours: sunrise to sunset
• The walk: short and flat from the lot to the waterfront
• Surface: paved lot, lawn and seawall; the city lists the park as ADA accessible

So close to Hillsboro Inlet, the Intracoastal here gets clean ocean water and a steady flow of bait.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook returning to the seawalls, jacks and ladyfish, the last of the sheepshead
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and tarpon early and late, mangrove snapper along the seawall, barracuda in clear water
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, tarpon and jacks crashing bait along the waterway
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the seawalls, bluefish pushing in after cold fronts

Structure and current call for medium tackle and a stout leader.

• Snook: a 7-foot medium-heavy spinning rod, 30 lb braid and a 40 lb fluorocarbon leader, with live pilchards or shrimp drifted along the seawall
• Mangrove snapper: a small live shrimp on a light knocker rig close to the wall
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 to 2/0 hook right against the seawall
• Jacks, ladyfish and bluefish: bucktails, spoons and small plugs worked through the current
• A long-handled net helps you land fish over the seawall

The Atlantic has two tides a day, and this close to Hillsboro Inlet the current runs hard.

• Incoming tide: clear, salty inlet water, good for snapper and jacks
• Outgoing tide: bait drains out of the canals and the launch basin, often the best time for snook and tarpon
• Dawn and dusk are prime; remember the park closes at sunset
• A strong east wind and big seas outside can cloud the inlet water
• Summer afternoon storms build quickly over the Intracoastal

The park is paved and easy to get around, but it is a working boat launch.

• Stay out of the way of boats being launched and pulled out, and keep lines away from the ramps
• Wakes from the Intracoastal wash against the seawall; watch children at the edge
• Watch your backcast in a busy parking area
• Never swim in the Intracoastal; boat traffic and current make it dangerous
• Lightning and heat are the main summer hazards
• Accessibility: the city lists the park as ADA accessible

Alsdorf Park has the basics for a half-day session.

• Restrooms, picnic areas and a playground
• A public boat launch with a boat dock
• The park is dog-friendly
• No bait shop is listed in the park; buy bait on the way
• Lights are not listed, and the park closes at sunset

• Fish the corner where the launch basin opens onto the Intracoastal; the current sweeps bait past it on both tides
• Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends, when the ramps are busiest
• Live pilchards or shrimp outfish lures for snook here most days
• In winter, drop crabs or shrimp straight down the seawall for sheepshead
• Take all line, hooks and bait scraps home; the waterfront is shared with boaters and families

Alsdorf Park is run by the City of Pompano Beach, and posted city park rules apply.

• The park is open from sunrise to sunset
• The city lists fishing here without marking where; fish the seawall and shoreline, and keep clear of the boat ramps and docks while boats are launching
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and release rules; check FWC before keeping any snook
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything