George English Park Fishing

George English Park is a busy city park where the Middle River widens just north of Sunrise Boulevard, and its boat-ramp peninsula puts shore anglers on the edge of moving tidal water. The city lists fishing among the park's amenities.

• A grassy peninsula tip where the ramp basin meets the Middle River
• Snook, tarpon, jacks and mangrove snapper on the moving tide
• Restrooms, picnic tables, a pavilion and paved parking close to the water
• Open until 9 p.m., so the dusk bite is within reach

The park is at 1101 Bayview Drive in Fort Lauderdale, on the east bank of the Middle River where Bayview Drive meets Sunrise Boulevard. It is run by the City of Fort Lauderdale.

• Getting there: take Sunrise Boulevard to Bayview Drive, just east of the Middle River bridge; the park fills the northwest corner of that intersection
• Parking: paved lots serve the boat ramp and the park; follow the posted rules and keep trailer spaces free
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The walk: a short, flat walk from the ramp parking to the tip of the peninsula
• Surface: paved lot and paths, then grass to a tree-lined edge at the tip

The Middle River is a tidal arm of the Intracoastal, and its fish follow the bait in and out.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook moving back along the shorelines, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and tarpon at dawn and dusk, mangrove snapper around docks and structure, barracuda in clear water
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, tarpon and jacks into the river after bait
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around docks and pilings, and snook sheltering in the river during cold snaps

Medium tackle and a heavy leader handle the snook and the structure.

• Snook and tarpon: a 7- to 8-foot medium-heavy spinning rod, 30 lb braid and a 40 lb fluorocarbon leader, with live shrimp, pilchards or finger mullet, or a paddle-tail swimbait
• Mangrove snapper: a small live shrimp on a light knocker rig close to structure
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook, fished tight to structure
• Jacks and ladyfish: small jigs and spoons cast across the current at the basin mouth
• A long-handled net helps you land fish at the edge

The Atlantic has two tides a day, and the Middle River fills and drains with them through the Intracoastal.

• Best: the outgoing tide, when bait drains out of the river and the basin past the peninsula tip
• Dawn and dusk are prime for snook and tarpon, and the park is open until 9 p.m.
• Heavy rain freshens and colors the river, and fish often drop back toward the Intracoastal afterward
• Winter cold fronts can push snook into the river's calmer, deeper water
• Summer afternoon storms build quickly; leave the water's edge at the first thunder

This is an easy, paved park, but it is also a busy boat ramp.

• Keep lines and casts away from the ramps and courtesy docks, and give launching boats room
• The edge at the peninsula tip is uneven and overgrown in places; watch your footing
• Never swim or wade in the river; boat traffic makes it dangerous
• Lightning and heat are the main summer hazards
• Accessibility: paved lots and paths run close to the water, but the tip itself is grass and uneven ground

George English Park is a full neighborhood park, so the basics are covered.

• Restrooms, picnic tables and a pavilion
• A boat ramp and a canoe and kayak landing
• A recreation center, playground, sports courts and lighted athletic fields
• Walking paths and a jogging trail around the park
• No bait shop is listed; buy bait before you arrive

• Fish the tip of the ramp peninsula on the outgoing tide; bait sweeps out of the basin past it
• Arrive at opening time on weekday mornings, when the ramp is quiet
• Work a paddle-tail swimbait along the edge at dusk for snook
• Pause when boats pass through the basin mouth, then cast again
• The Sunrise Boulevard bridge is off limits under city rules, so stay on the park's own shoreline

George English Park is run by the City of Fort Lauderdale, and city park rules apply.

• The park is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• City rules ban fishing from or under any bridge in Fort Lauderdale, including the nearby Sunrise Boulevard bridge
• Keep clear of the boat ramps and docks
• 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