Chester Roberts Park Fishing

Chester Roberts Park is a pocket-sized county park that gives shore anglers a public foothold on the lower Peace River just above the US 41 bridges, where river and harbor fish mix.

• Snook and redfish along the shore, best on moving water
• Seatrout and sheepshead in the cooler months
• Black drum, jacks, ladyfish and juvenile tarpon when bait moves
• A sand kayak launch onto the lower river

The park is at 5084 Melbourne Street in Charlotte Harbor, the community at the north end of the US 41 bridges across from Punta Gorda, on the east-facing shore of the Peace River.

• Parking: the county lists none, so park only where it is allowed on the street
• Hours: the park is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The walk: a few steps through a small wooded lot to the water's edge
• The county lists the park as a sand kayak launch on its paddling-trail map
• Private homes, docks and a condominium pier border the park on both sides

At the mouth of the Peace River, fresh river water meets the salty upper harbor, and fish move with the tide and the seasons.

• Spring (Mar–May): snook returning to the shoreline, redfish and seatrout on the moving tide, sheepshead finishing their run
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook at dawn and dusk, juvenile tarpon, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait, young bull sharks in the river
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and snook feeding before winter, seatrout returning
• Winter (Dec–Feb): seatrout, sheepshead and black drum, with snook holding in deeper river water after cold fronts

Light to medium spinning tackle covers the shore fishing here.

• Seatrout and redfish: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig head worked along the bottom
• Snook: live shrimp or small pinfish on a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook with 30 lb fluorocarbon, best at first light and dusk
• Sheepshead and black drum: shrimp or fiddler crabs on the bottom with a small egg sinker
• Juvenile tarpon: small swimbaits or live shrimp in summer
• A 7-foot medium spinning rod with 10 to 15 lb braid; carry pliers and a small net

Charlotte Harbor tides are small and mixed, usually two uneven highs and lows a day and sometimes only one, and at the river mouth the river's flow adds to the outgoing tide.

• The falling tide carries bait out of the river past this shore and usually fishes best
• Early morning and evening are best in the summer heat
• In the summer rainy season the river runs dark and fresher; fish may drop toward the harbor
• An east wind blows straight onto this shore and can make it choppy and dirty
• Winter cold fronts push snook into the deeper river channel

A small natural shore with private property on both sides.

• Stay on the park's frontage: the docks and the condominium pier beside it are private
• If you wade, shuffle your feet for stingrays, stay shallow and watch for boat traffic
• Young bull sharks are common in the river in summer; don't keep fish on a stringer in the water
• Summer afternoon storms bring lightning; leave at the first thunder
• Bring water and sun protection; there are no facilities
• The shore is natural and narrow, with little room at higher water, so check your footing
• Access is a short walk on natural ground with no paved path listed, so it does not suit a wheelchair

There are no facilities beyond the shore itself.

• A sand kayak launch
• No restrooms, drinking water or picnic shelters are listed
• No parking lot is listed
• No bait, tackle or food in the park, so bring live shrimp and supplies with you
• No lighting, and the park closes at 9 p.m.
• The county lists historic features at the park

• Fish the falling tide, when bait washes out of the river past the shore
• A popping cork with live shrimp is the easiest way to find trout and reds here
• Launch a kayak to reach the flats and docks up and down the river mouth
• Be a good neighbor: keep noise down and never cast at the private docks
• Pack out everything, including old line; no trash cans are listed

Chester Roberts Park is run by Charlotte County Community Services; follow the posted park rules.

• Park hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida residents fishing from shore can use the no-cost resident shoreline license
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and release rules; check FWC before keeping or handling one
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything