Port Everglades Jetty, Mizell-Johnson State Park Fishing

Port Everglades Jetty, Mizell-Johnson State Park puts shore anglers on the south side of one of Florida's busiest shipping inlets. It is productive, scenic and a little wild, with cruise ships passing close enough to wave at.

• Deep inlet water with strong tidal flow
• Snook, tarpon, snapper and jacks most of the year
• Spring and fall pompano runs along the adjoining beach
• A long, natural state park beach to explore between sessions

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is on the barrier island between Port Everglades and Dania Beach; the jetty is at the park's north end.

• Getting there: the only land entrance is at the park's south end, 6503 North Ocean Drive (A1A) in Dania Beach; the park road runs north from there to the inlet.
• Entrance: a Florida State Parks per-vehicle fee.
• Parking: drive through the park to the lots at the north end, closest to the jetty.
• Walk: short from the north end, but the jetty surface is rock and uneven.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset every day; the boat ramp's longer hours are for boaters, so there is no night fishing from the jetty.
• Closures: since March 9, 2026, restrooms 3 and 4, beach access from parking lot 3 and some picnic areas and pavilions have been closed.

The inlet channel moves fish and bait all year.

• Spring (Mar–May): pompano run along the beach, snook moving to the inlet, jacks, runners
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, barracuda
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the mullet run with snook, tarpon and jacks; pompano return
• Winter (Dec–Feb): bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead on the rocks, pompano
• Year-round: mangrove snapper and blue runners are almost always present around the rocks

Current and rocks demand strong tackle.

• Snook: 20–30 lb braid, 40 lb fluorocarbon, bucktails or live mullet and pilchards bounced with the tide
• Snapper and sheepshead: knocker rig with 1–3 oz egg sinker; shrimp, fiddler crabs, cut bait
• Pompano: pompano jigs or sand fleas on a dropper rig from the beach just south of the jetty, away from swimmers
• Jacks and runners: spoons and plugs into bait schools
• Bring a long-handled net or plan to walk fish to a safe landing spot.

Atlantic tides here are two a day (semidiurnal), roughly two to three feet, and the inlet runs hard between them.

• Best: around the tide changes, when you can hold bottom
• Outgoing carries Intracoastal bait to waiting snook; incoming brings clean ocean water
• In summer the first hours after the gate opens and the last before sunset are prime
• A big northeast swell makes the jetty dangerous and the water dirty; calm, light winds are ideal
• Ship wakes surge up the rocks without warning.

This is a rock jetty in a working port.

• Rocks are slippery and uneven; wear non-slip shoes and fish with a friend
• Stay well back from the edge when large ships pass; their wakes surge up the jetty
• Never wade or swim in the inlet; the current is deadly
• Lightning and heat in summer
• Accessibility is limited; the park lists accessible parking, picnic facilities and restrooms, and loans beach wheelchairs at the entrance station, but the jetty rocks are not accessible

State park facilities are available but plan for gaps.

• Restrooms and picnic areas in the park, though restrooms 3 and 4 and some picnic areas are closed for now
• Whiskey Creek Hideout, the park concession, with a restaurant, ice, limited picnic supplies and kayak and paddleboard rentals
• A boat ramp with ocean access through the inlet
• No bait shop on the jetty; buy bait before entering
• Picnic pavilions and beach walkways along the park's long beach
• Bring plenty of water; shade is scarce near the jetty

• Park at the north end to cut the walk.
• Time your trip for the last of the outgoing tide into slack, then the first of the incoming.
• Bring spare jigs and leaders; the rocks eat tackle.
• Watch the cruise ship schedule on busy weekends and step back when ships pass.
• The spring and fall pompano runs are worth a surf rod on the beach just south, when no swimmers are near.
• Snorkelers and divers use the nearshore reef off the beach; keep casts clear of dive flags.

The park is managed by Florida State Parks (Florida Department of Environmental Protection); the inlet is a federal navigation channel.

• The park names the beach for fishing whenever there are no swimmers in the immediate area; anglers also fish the jetty, so follow any posted signs and ranger directions
• Park hours are 8 a.m. to sunset with a per-vehicle fee; stay out of closed areas and restricted port areas
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit and specific gear and handling
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons, permits and handling rules; check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything