Lewis Landing Park Fishing

Lewis Landing Park is a quiet riverside park on the South Fork of the New River, a short drive from downtown Fort Lauderdale. The city lists fishing among its amenities, and the tidal river carries snook and tarpon past its bank.

• A shady lawn, dock and observation deck on the South Fork
• Snook, tarpon, jacks and mangrove snapper on the moving tide
• Parking, a pavilion, picnic tables and a drinking fountain
• A quiet neighborhood setting close to downtown

The park is at 630 SW 9th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, running from SW 7th Street north to the South Fork of the New River. It is run by the City of Fort Lauderdale.

• Getting there: follow SW 7th Street to SW 9th Avenue; the park runs north from that corner to the river
• Parking: the city lists parking at the park; follow the posted signs
• Hours: sunrise to sunset
• The walk: a short, flat walk along the park's path to the river
• Surface: paths, lawn and the riverbank, with a dock and an observation deck

The South Fork is a tidal branch of the New River, and its fish move with the bait on every tide.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook moving up the river, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and tarpon at dawn and dusk, mangrove snapper around seawalls and docks, ladyfish schools
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run pushes bait up the river, with snook, tarpon and jacks behind it
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead around pilings, and snook sheltering in the river during cold snaps

Keep it simple and use a heavy leader; the river is lined with docks and seawalls.

• Snook and tarpon: a 7- to 8-foot medium-heavy spinning rod, 30 lb braid and a 40 lb fluorocarbon leader, with live shrimp or pilchards, or a small paddle-tail swimbait along the edge
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a 1/0 hook with a split shot, close to the seawall
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short knocker rig beside pilings
• Jacks and ladyfish: small jigs and spoons cast across the current
• Bring a long-handled net for landing fish at the bank

The Atlantic's two daily tides reach up the New River and its South Fork from the Intracoastal.

• Best: the first hours of the outgoing tide, when bait drains downriver past the park
• Dawn and dusk are prime for snook and tarpon; the park is open from sunrise to sunset
• Heavy rain freshens and colors the river, and fish often move downstream toward saltier water afterward
• Winter cold fronts can push snook into the river's deeper, calmer water
• Summer afternoon storms build quickly; leave the bank at the first thunder

This is a small neighborhood park on a residential stretch of river.

• Boats, including large yachts, pass close to the bank; keep lines short when they go by and watch children at the edge
• Never swim or wade in the river
• Lightning and summer heat are the main hazards; the lawn is shady but the bank is exposed
• Bring insect repellent for dawn and dusk
• Accessibility: a flat park with paths; ask the city about wheelchair access to the dock and deck

The park is simple but well set up for a short session.

• Parking, a bicycle rack and a walking path
• A pavilion, picnic tables, park benches and a drinking fountain
• A dock and an observation deck on the river
• Restrooms, bait and tackle are not listed; buy bait on the way
• No lights are listed, and the park closes at sunset

• Fish the outgoing tide at first light, when the river is quiet and bait washes past the bank
• Cast parallel to the seawall rather than out into the channel
• A free-lined live shrimp is the most reliable bait for snook and snapper alike
• Reel in when boats pass and let the wake settle before casting again
• It is a residential street, so keep noise down and take all line and bait home

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

• The park is open from sunrise to sunset
• City rules ban fishing from or under any bridge in Fort Lauderdale
• Follow any posted rules for the dock and observation deck
• 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