John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Fishing

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park protects a long, undeveloped stretch of Singer Island between the Atlantic and the Lake Worth Cove estuary. It is a natural beach with room to spread out, and the same visit can take in the shallow cove behind it.

• More than a mile and a half of beach with no lifeguards
• Pompano, whiting and bluefish in the cooler months; snook and jacks when the water warms
• Wade or paddle the estuary for snook and snapper
• Fishing is allowed on the beach and in the estuary, but not from the boardwalk

The park is at 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, at the north end of Singer Island. Florida State Parks runs it, supported by the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park.

• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, every day of the year
• Entry: $5 per vehicle for two to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle, and $2 for pedestrians, cyclists and extra passengers
• The walk: a 1,600-foot boardwalk crosses Lake Worth Cove from the parking area to the beach
• Tram: a tram runs from the parking lot to the beach daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Surface: boardwalk, then soft sand; parts of the cove are shallow enough to wade

The beach and the cove fish differently, so match the season to the water.

• Spring (Mar-May): the last pompano and bluefish, Spanish mackerel passing through, and snook returning to the beach
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook along the beach and the shallow rocks at dawn, jacks, whiting in the troughs, and mangrove snapper along the cove's edges
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run pushes bait tight to the beach, bringing snook, tarpon, jacks and bluefish
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano, whiting and bluefish in the surf, with Spanish mackerel on clean water after a front

A 9 to 11 foot surf rod covers the beach, and a light spinning rod suits the cove.

• Pompano and whiting: a double-drop rig with sand fleas, clam or shrimp on 1/0 hooks and a 2 to 4 oz pyramid sinker, fished in the first trough
• Snook and tarpon: live mullet or pilchards, or a white bucktail or paddle-tail swimbait worked along the beach at first light
• Bluefish and Spanish mackerel: silver spoons and small plugs when bait shows
• The cove: wade slowly or fish from a kayak with live shrimp or small jigs along the mangrove edges
• Land big fish in the wash; there is no structure to lift them onto

Singer Island has two Atlantic tides a day. The cove connects to the Lake Worth Lagoon, so its water moves with the lagoon rather than with the surf.

• A rising tide into high water is usually best for pompano and whiting in the troughs
• Snook feed hardest at dawn and dusk, often on a falling tide
• A light easterly swell stirs up sand fleas; a big swell and dirty water fish poorly
• Clear, green water is best for pompano and snook
• In the cove, fish while the tide is moving; slack water in the midday heat is slow

There are no lifeguards on this beach, so treat the ocean with respect.

• Rip currents form along the beach; do not wade deep to cast
• Keep well clear of swimmers and snorkelers, who use the shallow reef close to shore
• Summer thunderstorms build quickly; leave the beach and the boardwalk at the first thunder
• Shuffle your feet when wading the surf or the cove to avoid stingrays
• The open beach has no shade; carry water and sun protection
• Access: the tram and the boardwalk make the beach reachable without the long walk, and the rangers bring out beach wheelchairs free of charge

The park has more facilities than most beach spots, but its restrooms are under repair.

• Restrooms: the main restrooms by the Nature Center have been closed since August 2026 for septic system work, with portable restrooms on site, and the North Beach restroom has been closed since March 2025
• Showers near the beach, as the Friends list them
• A nature center, a gift shop and a food concession
• Kayak and paddleboard rentals, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
• Picnic pavilions, tables and grills
• No bait or tackle for sale that we could confirm; bring everything you need

• The park opens at 8 a.m. and the tram starts at 10, so early anglers walk the boardwalk with their gear; travel light
• Walk north or south from the end of the boardwalk to get away from swimmers and find your own trough
• Bring fresh sand fleas or clams from a bait shop: state park rules protect animal life other than game and food fish
• A rented kayak is the easiest way to reach the quieter corners of the cove
• Arrive early on summer weekends, when the park is at its busiest
• This is a busy sea turtle nesting beach; fill any holes you dig and steer clear of marked nests

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is managed by Florida State Parks.

• The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset, so there is no night fishing here
• Fishing is allowed on the beach away from swimming areas and in the estuary by wading, kayak or canoe, but not from the boardwalk
• Motorized vessels are not allowed in the estuary
• Pets are not allowed on the beach or the boardwalk, and alcohol is prohibited
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit, and snook and tarpon have their own rules
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything