Peck Lake Park Fishing

Peck Lake Park is a preserve walk with a fishing reward at the end: a deck and pavilion on the Indian River Lagoon, looking across to the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. The county lists fishing among the park's uses, and it is a scenic, peaceful place to wet a line from shore.

• A trail, mostly boardwalk, of just under a mile to a large lagoon deck
• Stairs from the deck down to the lagoon shoreline
• Snook, seatrout, redfish, jacks and snapper in the warm months
• Watch for manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and birds from the deck

The park is on SE Gomez Avenue in Hobe Sound, in southern Martin County, and is run by Martin County.

• Getting there: follow SE Gomez Avenue to the park entrance and pick up the trail out to the lagoon
• The walk: just under a mile each way, mostly boardwalk with some natural trail through the preserve
• Entry: no fee is listed; follow any posted signs
• Hours: not published for Peck Lake; by county code, Martin County parks open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. unless posted otherwise, so read the sign at the gate
• The county lists the park as ADA accessible, and the tourism office notes it as an accessible site on Wheel the World
• Dogs are allowed under the county's BARK Ranger rules

This stretch of the Indian River Lagoon lies between the St. Lucie and Jupiter inlets, with mangrove edges and shallow flats.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook move onto the mangrove edges, seatrout and redfish feed on the flats, jacks arrive
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and mangrove snapper early and late, the odd tarpon rolling in the channel
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, jacks and ladyfish after bait along the shore
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around structure, seatrout on warm afternoons after cold fronts

Everything has to be carried to the deck, so keep it to one rod and a small bag.

• Snook and redfish: a 7-foot medium spinning rod, 20 lb braid and a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader with a live shrimp or a soft plastic worked along the mangrove edges
• Spotted seatrout: a live shrimp under a popping cork, or a small jig over the grass
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a light knocker rig near any structure
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons, bucktails and topwater plugs when bait is busting
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on the bottom in winter

The Atlantic has two tides a day, and they reach Peck Lake through the St. Lucie and Jupiter inlets, but the range this far inside the lagoon is small, so wind and light often matter more.

• Moving water on either tide beats slack; the first hours of the outgoing are good for snook
• Early morning and evening are prime in the warm months
• A light wind keeps the water clear; a strong blow muddies the flats
• Heavy rain freshens and darkens the lagoon edges for a few days
• Calm, sunny afternoons after winter cold fronts suit seatrout and sheepshead

The deck is sheltered, but it is a long walk from the car, so plan for it.

• Carry water, sun protection and insect repellent; the mangroves hold mosquitoes on still evenings
• Lightning builds fast on summer afternoons; the deck is almost a mile from your car and an open pavilion is not a safe shelter, so start back at the first thunder
• Take care on the stairs from the deck down to the shoreline, which can be slippery
• Boat wakes from the Intracoastal can wash the shore
• Accessibility: the county lists the park as ADA accessible and the trail is mostly boardwalk, but part of it is natural trail

Only a covered pavilion and picnic tables are listed at the end of the trail, so use the restrooms before you walk out.

• Multiple covered picnic areas
• Accessible restrooms, listed by the county's tourism office
• A covered pavilion and picnic tables at the end of the trail
• Grills are listed by the county's park finder
• No bait shop, food or lights are listed; bring bait and drinks with you

• Pack light: one rod, a small bag and a few rigs are plenty for the walk
• Work the mangrove edges either side of the deck rather than the open water
• Bring live shrimp in an aerated bucket; it is the most reliable bait here
• Go early on a calm morning, when the water is clearest and the snook are shallow
• Keep an eye out for manatees and dolphins, and never cast at them
• The preserve is a Great Florida Birding Trail site, so expect birders and keep the deck clear for others

Peck Lake Park is a Martin County preserve, and the county's park finder lists fishing there.

• The county's park code bans throwing a cast net onto seagrass from any county park
• Follow posted park rules and check the county's park updates page for closures
• Dogs must follow the county's BARK Ranger rules
• Follow Leave No Trace, and take all line and hooks home
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and handling rules; check FWC
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything