Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier

Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier is a long city-run pier on one of Broward's prettiest beaches, with a well-stocked bait shop at its foot. Its length gives shore anglers a real shot at pelagic fish.

• 976 feet of pier reaching deep, clear water
• Kingfish and cobia in spring and fall, mackerel and bluefish in winter
• Pompano in the surf zone through the cooler months
• Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with restaurants beside the pier

The pier is at 200 NE 21st Avenue, at the east end of Hillsboro Boulevard, on Deerfield Beach Main Beach.

• Getting there: take Hillsboro Boulevard east to A1A; the pier is straight ahead.
• Parking: pay-by-plate beach parking nearby; the Pier Lot has angler parking for a fee, only when space allows and the bait shop is open.
• Check-in: every visitor, including those who get in free, checks in at the bait shop at the pier entrance before walking out.
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily; holidays and city events such as Jr. Angler Day can change them.
• Walk: the pier is long, so plan for the walk to the end.

The long pier covers both the surf zone and deep water.

• Spring (Mar–May): kingfish, cobia, blue runners, Spanish mackerel early in the season
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook, tarpon at dawn, jacks, barracuda, yellowtail on clear days
• Fall (Sep–Nov): mullet run with snook, jacks and bluefish; kingfish return
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano and little tunny
• Year-round: blue runners and jacks are almost always somewhere along the pier

Carry light and heavy outfits.

• Mackerel and bluefish: spoons and Gotcha plugs on a short wire tippet
• Pompano: pompano jigs bounced on the bottom or sand fleas on a dropper rig with 2–4 oz pyramid sinker
• Kingfish: live blue runner on a wire stinger rig under a float from the end
• Snook: live pilchards or jigs around the pier shadows at dawn and in the evening
• Bring a landing net no wider than 36 inches for anything over a few pounds; nets may only be used to land fish, never to catch bait.

Atlantic tides, two highs and two lows a day, with a mean range of about 2.5 feet on this stretch of coast.

• Moving water and clean, green-blue water fish best; the incoming often delivers it
• Early morning is prime for mackerel and pelagics
• A light southeast breeze is ideal; northeast swell dirties the water and pushes weed
• The day or two after a winter front often brings bluefish and mackerel runs
• Weed mats after a blow can foul lines; fish the clean lanes between patches

The deck is flat and railed, and the pier is popular with families.

• Accessible from the beach promenade; the pier is long, so plan for the walk
• Lightning from summer afternoon storms; get off early
• Strong sun; bring water and shade
• Surfers use the north side of the pier; swimming and surfing are banned within 50 yards of it, so never cast toward swimmers
• Rip currents along the beach
• Shoes are required on the pier, and anglers under 18 need an adult with them late at night
• Handle kingfish and bluefish carefully; their teeth cut deep

The pier and beach are well served.

• Pier bait shop with fresh and frozen bait, tackle, leader, weights, chum bags, ice, drinks, snacks and rod rentals
• Rod rentals run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only and need a cash deposit and ID; rented rods stay on the pier
• Restaurants and cafes by the pier on the beach promenade
• Lifeguards on the beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
• Pay-by-plate parking and the Pier Lot nearby

• Check in at the bait shop first; it is required and it is also where the fishing report is.
• Rod rentals need a cash deposit and ID, and stop at 5 p.m.
• Kingfish anglers stake out the end early when a run is on.
• Veterans and active military fish free with ID; residents and first responders get free sightseeing.
• Watch the city's live beach cameras to judge crowds and water color before you drive.
• Weekday mornings are calmest; fishing from the beach itself is banned from 8 a.m. to dusk.

The pier is operated by the City of Deerfield Beach under its city code.

• All visitors check in at the bait shop; small sightseeing and fishing fees apply
• Hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• No shark fishing: if one is hooked, cut the line at once and do not land it
• No cast nets, hoop nets or framed nets for bait; landing nets up to 36 inches only
• Four rods at most (three fishing and one for bait), no double trolley rigs, no pets, no bare feet, no sitting on the rails, and cut bait only on a cutting board
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything
• Release any goliath grouper and tarpon as FWC rules require