Bob Graham Beach Fishing

Bob Graham Beach lies a short drive south of the guarded park at Jensen Beach, where the county bans fishing, and offers a big lot, a boardwalk over the dune and no buildings on the sand. Martin County's tourism office singles it out for good fishing and wildlife watching.

• An undeveloped beach with parking for dozens of cars
• Open at all hours, so night snook trips are allowed
• Pompano, whiting and bluefish in the cooler months
• A boardwalk over the dune and a walking trail through the scrub behind it

The access is at 3225 NE Ocean Boulevard (A1A) on Hutchinson Island, south of the Jensen Beach Causeway, and Martin County runs it.

• Coming off the Jensen Beach Causeway, turn south on A1A; the lot is about 0.7 mile past Jensen Beach
• A long paved lot runs north and south just east of the road, with its entrance at the south end
• The boardwalk leaves the southeast corner of the lot and crosses the dune to the sand
• County beaches and access strips are open at all times unless the county closes them
• No fee is listed for parking or entry

Fishing here follows the seasons of the Hutchinson Island surf.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano linger into April while Spanish mackerel and bluefish work the bait schools
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook in the trough at night and at first light, with whiting and ladyfish on calm days
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, crevalle jacks, tarpon and bluefish within casting range
• Winter (Dec-Feb): the best pompano and whiting fishing of the year, especially after a front has passed and the surf has cleared, with the odd black drum on clam

Match the rod to the job: a long surf rod for the bottom and a lighter outfit for lures.

• Pompano and whiting: a double-drop rig with 1/0 to 2/0 circle hooks and a sputnik sinker, baited with bought sand fleas, clam or peeled shrimp
• Night snook: a live pilchard or a large soft swimbait worked slowly along the trough on 30 to 40 lb fluorocarbon
• Bluefish and mackerel: a silver spoon on a short piece of wire
• Fall jacks and tarpon: a live finger mullet or a big plug thrown past the bait school
• A cart with balloon tires makes the boardwalk and the soft sand easier

Two highs and two lows a day reach this beach; NOAA's nearest ocean-side station, at Seminole Shores to the south, predicts ranges of roughly 2 to 4 feet.

• The rising tide into high water usually brings fish into the trough closest to the sand
• Clear water with a gentle swell is ideal for pompano; weedy, churned surf rarely produces
• An east or northeast blow over several days scours the beach and makes fishing tough
• In summer, go at night or at dawn to avoid the heat and the afternoon storms
• Mullet runs peak on the first cool fronts of fall

There are no lifeguards here, so fish within your limits.

• Rip currents are common off Hutchinson Island; keep to knee depth and never swim after a lost rig
• Lightning comes fast on summer afternoons; leave the beach at the first thunder
• At night, carry a headlamp, fish with a partner and tell someone where you are
• Shuffle your feet in the wash to warn stingrays away
• Access: a paved lot and a boardwalk, then soft sand to the water; the beach itself has no firm path

Facilities are basic, so arrive with what you need.

• A large paved lot off A1A
• A boardwalk crossover at the south end of the lot
• A walking trail through the scrub behind the dune, listed by the county
• No restrooms or drinking water are listed
• No bait or tackle at the access; buy bait before you cross the causeway
• No lifeguards; the nearest guarded beach is Jensen Beach Park

• Park near the boardwalk at the south end of the lot to keep the carry short
• On summer nights, a slow-rising tide with little moon is prime snook time
• In sea turtle nesting season, keep lights low and pointed away from the dune
• Watch for birds working bait along the outer bar in fall and winter
• Take every piece of line and every bait bag home with you

Bob Graham Beach is a Martin County beach access, and the county code sets its rules.

• County beaches and access strips are open at all times
• Chumming and blood-baiting are banned on county-owned beaches
• Shark fishing is banned within 1,000 yards of a full-service beach park, and that buffer around Jensen Beach Park ends close to this access; leave shark gear at home
• Do not take or harm sand dollars, starfish or other wildlife, or disturb the dune plants
• In July 2026 the county tabled a rewrite of these beach fishing rules after the FWC said local rules conflict with state law, so check the county's current code before you go
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon carry extra FWC rules
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything