Anne Kolb Nature Center Fishing

Anne Kolb Nature Center is a quiet, free way onto the Intracoastal Waterway from the middle of Hollywood's mangrove preserve. The county allows fishing along the Intracoastal here, and the boardwalks keep you above the mud and roots.

• A short paved trail from the parking lot to a boardwalk and two small fishing piers on the west bank of the Intracoastal, north of the Sheridan Street bridge
• Snook, mangrove snapper, sheepshead and black drum, the fish the county names for West Lake
• Jacks, ladyfish and tarpon when bait moves along the waterway
• No gate fee listed, and an exhibit hall to fill the slack tide

The nature center is at 751 Sheridan Street in Hollywood, on the north side of Sheridan Street just west of the Intracoastal bridge. It is run by Broward County Parks and Recreation.

• Getting there: take Sheridan Street east toward the beach; the nature center is just before the Intracoastal bridge
• Entry: the county lists no gate fee for the nature center
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily; the exhibit hall is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on Christmas Day
• The walk: a short paved trail, about a quarter mile there and back, leads from the parking area to two small fishing piers on the Intracoastal
• Surface: paved path, then boardwalk over the mangroves; the water's edge itself is soft mud and roots

The Intracoastal here mixes West Lake's mangrove fish with whatever the tide carries along the waterway.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook moving along the mangrove edge, jacks and ladyfish, mangrove snapper becoming more active
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook at dawn and dusk, mangrove snapper around pilings, tarpon rolling in the waterway, ladyfish schools
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, tarpon and jacks chasing bait along the banks
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around pilings and shell, with mangrove snapper still biting on warm days

Fish light, but strong enough to turn a snook away from the roots.

• Snook: a 7-foot medium spinning rod, 20-30 lb braid and a 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader, with live shrimp or pilchards free-lined or under a float along the edge
• Mangrove snapper and sheepshead: a small knocker rig with a 1/0 hook and shrimp or fiddler crabs close to the pilings
• Black drum: shrimp or cut crab on the bottom on the slower stages of the tide
• Jacks and ladyfish: small bucktails, spoons and soft plastics worked through the current
• Bring a long-handled landing net; lifting fish up to a boardwalk by the line loses them

The Atlantic has two tides a day, and the Intracoastal between Port Everglades and Haulover inlets carries a steady current as they rise and fall.

• Best: the middle hours of either tide, when the current moves bait along the bank
• A falling tide drains West Lake's mangroves into the waterway and brings bait with it
• Dawn and dusk are the best light for snook and tarpon; midday suits snapper and sheepshead
• Calm mornings are easiest; afternoon sea breezes and weekend boat wakes make fishing harder
• Summer afternoon storms build quickly over the mangroves

This is a boardwalk preserve beside one of South Florida's busiest boating waterways.

• Boat wakes wash up the bank; keep gear and children back from the edge
• Boardwalk planks can be slick after rain or heavy dew
• Expect mosquitoes and biting midges in the mangroves at dawn and dusk; bring repellent
• Summer heat and afternoon lightning are the biggest hazards; carry water and leave the boardwalk at the first thunder
• Never wade out from the mangroves; the mud is deep and the channel drops off
• Accessibility: a short paved trail and boardwalks; ask at the nature center about wheelchair access to the fishing piers

The nature center is a preserve rather than a full-service park, so bring what you need to fish.

• An exhibit hall, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
• Meeting room and amphitheater that the county rents out
• Restrooms at the nature center; no concession is listed, so bring water and snacks
• No bait or tackle on site; buy shrimp and tackle on the way
• West Lake Park, a short drive west on Sheridan Street, has picnic areas, a playground and a marina with kayak and paddleboard rentals on weekends, weather permitting

• Work the boardwalk: try several stretches of the edge rather than sitting in one place
• On a falling tide, fish where water drains out of the mangroves; bait and snook gather there
• The county also allows fishing from all sides of the Sheridan Street bridge over West Lake and from the South Trail, which runs under the west end of the Intracoastal bridge
• Weekday mornings are the quietest time on the water
• Only electric or paddle power is allowed on West Lake, so paddlers can fish the lake without outboard traffic
• Keep a spare leader rigged; the roots and pilings take their share

Anne Kolb Nature Center is run by Broward County Parks and Recreation, and county park rules apply.

• The county allows fishing along the Intracoastal Waterway here
• Park hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the park is closed on Christmas Day
• The county lists the nature center as not pet-friendly
• 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
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything