Kelsey Park, Lake Park Fishing

Kelsey Park is a small town park on the lagoon side of Lake Park, where a seawall gives anglers a ready-made casting platform on the Intracoastal. It suits a quick evening session or a family outing more than a serious trip.

• Seawall fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway
• Light tackle for snapper, snook, sheepshead and jacks
• Small lot and a playground nearby
• Rules for fishing are not posted in the sources we found, so read the signs

The park is at 725 Lake Shore Drive in Lake Park and is maintained by the Town of Lake Park.

• Parking: a small lot reached up a short incline from Lake Shore Drive, with a second lot mentioned in local write-ups
• The wall runs along the park's lagoon edge, a short walk from the lot over grass
• Hours: the town's hours were not confirmed; expect an evening closing time and read the park sign
• Fees: none confirmed

The Lake Worth Lagoon is a nursery for many inshore fish, so the catch is mixed and mostly small.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook and mangrove snapper start to feed as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snapper, jacks and snook around the wall, mostly at dawn and dusk
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run draws snook, jacks and ladyfish
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and the occasional seatrout on cooler, calm days

Light spinning gear is plenty from the wall.

• A 7 foot spinning rod with 10 to 15 lb line and a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Live shrimp on a small hook or knocker rig for snapper and sheepshead
• Live pilchards or a small swimbait for snook at first light
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp dropped beside the wall for sheepshead in winter
• A long-handled net helps land fish from the wall

The lagoon follows the Atlantic's tides, two highs and two lows a day, though the current is softer than at the inlets.

• Moving water is best; fish the first and last two hours of a tide
• Dawn and dusk are the best light, especially in summer
• Clear water after a few dry days helps sight-fishing for sheepshead
• Heavy rain muddies the lagoon for a day or two

A town park with simple access, though the seawall has its hazards.

• Keep children back from the edge of the wall
• Boat wakes slap the wall, so tie down your gear
• Leave at the first thunder of a summer storm
• Catfish spines are sharp; handle with care
• Access is by a short walk over grass from a small lot; the incline off Lake Shore Drive is steep for a wheelchair

The park offers a family-friendly set of amenities, though we could not confirm all of them.

• A playground, tennis and pickleball courts and walking paths are described in local write-ups
• Restrooms were not confirmed
• Kayak and paddleboard launching is mentioned by visitors
• No bait shop at the park that we could confirm; bring bait

• Weekend mornings bring other anglers, so arrive early for a spot on the wall
• Small live shrimp are the best all-round bait here
• Fish the wall's corners where the current bends
• Watch for kayakers launching along the park's edge
• Bring a bucket for water and a rag; there is little shade
• If the wall is crowded, the Blue Heron bridge area is a short drive away

The Town of Lake Park manages the park, and we did not find the town listing fishing as a park activity, so read the posted signs before you fish.

• No fishing ban was found, but none of the sources we read confirms fishing is allowed either
• Obey posted hours and rules
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook have their own seasons; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything