Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park Fishing

Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park is an easy, free pier-fishing spot a short run from the Lake Worth Inlet, where the lagoon fills with clean ocean water twice a day.

• A large fishing pier under the bridge and two smaller platforms on the west side
• Mangrove snapper and sheepshead most of the year
• Snook and jacks around the bridge lights and shadows
• Free parking, restrooms and fish-cleaning stations, great for families

The park is at 900 East Blue Heron Boulevard, Riviera Beach, on the island between the mainland and Singer Island.

• Getting there: take Blue Heron Boulevard east toward Singer Island; the park entrance is on the island under the bridge.
• Parking: free in the regular spaces; trailer spaces need the county's daily boat trailer permit, and the county closes the entrance when the lots are full.
• Walk: short and flat from the lots to the fishing pier and platforms.
• Hours: the fishing pier is open from sunrise to 10 p.m.; the rest of the park is open sunrise to sunset.

Inlet water keeps this lagoon spot productive year-round.

• Spring (Mar–May): snapper, jacks, sheepshead tailing off, snook moving
• Summer (Jun–Aug): mangrove snapper at their best, snook in the evening, barracuda
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the mullet run brings snook, jacks and tarpon
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead, pompano over sandy bottom, black drum
• Year-round: mangrove snapper and small jacks are around the pilings most days

Light to medium tackle with a strong leader for the pilings.

• Snapper: 1/0 circle hook on 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 1/2–2 oz sliding sinker, live or dead shrimp
• Sheepshead: small, strong hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp tight to the pilings
• Snook: live shrimp or pilchards free-lined along the shadow line after dark; jerkbaits and jigs
• Pompano: small jigs bounced along the sandy bottom on the incoming
• Bring a drop net for bigger fish, and clean your catch only at the pier's fish-cleaning stations.

Atlantic tides reach the lagoon here twice a day; NOAA's Port of Palm Beach station just south shows a mean range of about 2.7 feet this close to the inlet.

• The incoming brings clear ocean water and the best bite for snapper and pompano
• Outgoing water is darker and suits snook along the shadows
• Evenings around the bridge lights, before the 10 p.m. closing, are good for snook
• Strong winds against the tide make the lagoon choppy; calm evenings are ideal

Easy access, but a busy multi-use park.

• Flat fishing pier and platforms close to parking
• Divers and snorkelers are in the water around the bridge; keep lines well clear of dive flags and the guarded swimming area
• Boat traffic passes under the bridge spans
• Lightning in summer; heat and sun
• Handle barracuda and snook carefully
• Evening sessions: bring a light and watch the edge
• A beach wheelchair and beach access mats are available at the guarded beach

Good county park facilities.

• Restrooms and outdoor showers
• Four fish-cleaning stations on the fishing pier and along the bulkhead
• Picnic area with grills and four family picnic shelters
• The playground is closed until further notice while new equipment is prepared
• Boat ramps with day docks; trailer parking needs a daily permit
• Lifeguarded swimming beach inside the park
• Bring bait and tackle with you, and a light for evening sessions
• Food on Singer Island and along Blue Heron Boulevard

• Fish only from the pier and the two west-side platforms; the swimming area, ramps and docks are off limits.
• Time your trip for the incoming tide for clean water.
• Bring fiddler crabs in winter for sheepshead.
• Evening sessions before the 10 p.m. closing are prime for snook.
• Be courteous to divers; the snorkel trail here is internationally known.
• Arrive early on weekends; divers fill the lots around high tide and the county shuts the gate when full.

Phil Foster Memorial Park is run by Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation.

• Fishing is allowed from the fishing pier and the two platforms on the west side; not in the swimming area, at the boat ramps or from the docks
• Fishing pier hours are sunrise to 10 p.m.; the rest of the park closes at sunset
• No harvesting tropical or aquarium fish in the park's waters, and no spears or knives to take fish
• County code bans shark fishing and chumming on county beaches with guarded swim areas
• Alcohol is prohibited in the park
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and handling rules; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything