Anchorage Park, North Palm Beach Fishing

Anchorage Park is a Village of North Palm Beach park on the water, with two fishing piers on its canal shore and plenty for the family to do while you fish. It is a relaxed, light-tackle spot, and the village's own fishing derby is held here.

• Two fishing piers on sheltered tidal canals that run out to Lake Worth Creek and the lagoon
• Mangrove snapper, snook and sheepshead, plus seatrout and catfish
• Outdoor restrooms, pavilions and a new playground
• A good first spot for children learning to fish

The park is at 603 Anchorage Drive, North Palm Beach, where two of the village's tidal canals meet. The Village of North Palm Beach Parks and Recreation Department runs it.

• Park hours: sunrise to sunset
• Office: the recreation office in the park's activity building is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Parking: the village lists no parking fee for the park
• Boat ramp: residents and village business owners only, with a village decal
• Kayaks and paddleboards: a walk-up launch platform that needs no permit

These canals are sheltered water, so light tackle rules.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook and mangrove snapper wake up as the water warms, with jacks chasing bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper at their best around the piers, snook at dawn and dusk
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, jacks and ladyfish through on the tide
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings, with seatrout on cooler days

A light spinning rod with 8 to 12 lb line and a 15 to 20 lb leader is ideal from the piers.

• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp or cut bait on a light knocker rig near the pilings
• Snook: live shrimp or pilchards, or a small swimbait along the edges at first light
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp dropped straight down the pilings in winter
• Seatrout: a live shrimp under a popping cork, or a small soft plastic on a jig head
• Children: a small hook, a split shot and a piece of shrimp catches snapper, pinfish and catfish

The canals rise and fall with the Atlantic tides, twice a day, with a gentler current than near the inlets.

• Moving water is best; fish the first and last hours of each tide
• The incoming tide usually brings the cleanest water
• Early mornings and evenings are best in the summer heat
• A cool, clear winter day with a light breeze is prime for sheepshead
• Heavy rain clouds the water for a day or two

The park is family-friendly and easy to get around, but it is also a working marina.

• Keep lines clear of boats using the ramp, the day docks and the kayak launch
• Keep children back from the edge of the piers and the water
• Leave the piers at the first thunder of a summer storm
• Carry water and sun protection
• Catfish have sharp spines; handle them carefully, or cut the line near the hook
• Access: the two piers are on the park's southern shoreline, reached by the park's paths

The park has plenty for a family day out.

• Two fishing piers
• Outdoor restrooms
• One large and eight small pavilions
• A new playground with sail shade and a zip line, sand volleyball courts, tennis and pickleball courts and a fitness trail
• Dog parks for large and small breeds
• A walk-up kayak and paddleboard launch and two day docks for pick-up and drop-off
• No bait shop in the park that we could confirm; bring bait

• Bring children for the Kids Fishing Derby, a catch-and-release event the village holds here
• Fish the piers early on summer mornings, before the heat and the boat traffic
• Small live shrimp are the best bait for snapper here
• In winter, fiddler crabs on the pilings are the way to catch sheepshead
• Check the village calendar before you go; tournaments and events can make the park busy

Anchorage Park is managed by the Village of North Palm Beach.

• The park is open sunrise to sunset
• The boat ramp is for village residents and business owners with a decal; overnight stays at the day docks are prohibited
• The derby held here is catch-and-release; practice the same with small fish
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook have their own seasons and rules; check FWC before keeping a snook
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything