Peanut Island Park Fishing

Peanut Island Park is an island park at the mouth of the Lake Worth Lagoon, with a fishing pier and shoreline washed by clear water from the Palm Beach Inlet. Getting there takes a boat, but the reward is quieter, fishier water than the mainland shore.

• Boat access only: private boat, kayak or one of two water taxis
• A fishing pier on the east side plus designated shore areas; fishing in designated areas only
• Clear inlet water with snapper, snook, jacks and tarpon
• No food, bait or rentals on the island

Peanut Island sits in the Lake Worth Lagoon just inside the Lake Worth Inlet, between Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores. Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation runs it.

• Getting there: two independently run water taxis serve the island daily, weather permitting: the Peanut Island Shuttle Boat from Riviera Beach Marina (first come, first served) and the Palm Beach Water Taxi's shuttle from Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores (reservations recommended). Departures run from mid-morning to mid-afternoon and the last boats back leave around 5 to 5:30 p.m.; check each operator's schedule. Or come by private boat, kayak or paddleboard to the island docks.
• Parking: water taxi riders park on the mainland; parking at Riviera Beach Marina is limited and paid
• Hours: day use and the fishing pier from sunrise to sunset; the campground is the only overnight use
• The walk: a paver walkway loops the island, and the fishing pier is beside the east dock where the water taxis stop

The inlet brings reef and pelagic fish into reach, and the lagoon side adds classic inshore species.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook and tarpon moving through, crevalle jack, mangrove snapper starting to bite, the last of the Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper at their best, barracuda, snook, grunts and small reef fish along the rocks
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run pulls snook, tarpon and big jacks into the inlet
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead around the pilings and rocks, bluefish and jacks on the tide, occasional permit and pompano on the sandy edges

Light to medium spinning tackle covers most of it; step up to a heavier rod if you want a snook or tarpon.

• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp or pilchard pieces on a 1/0 hook with a light knocker rig, fished tight to the pier and rocks
• Snook: live pilchards or shrimp on a 3/0-4/0 circle hook and 40 lb fluorocarbon leader, drifted with the current along the island's edges
• Jacks and barracuda: bucktail jigs, tube lures and fast-moving plugs
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small, strong hook against the pilings in winter
• Pack light: everything has to travel over on the water taxi

The Palm Beach Inlet has two tides a day, averaging a little over two and a half feet at the Port of Palm Beach gauge, and strong currents that the island feels.

• The incoming tide brings clear, blue ocean water past the island and is the best time for snapper, jacks and barracuda
• The outgoing tide is murkier but moves bait out of the lagoon and draws snook and tarpon
• Slack tide is the easiest time to fish with light tackle
• The first hours after you arrive are usually calmer and quieter before the boat crowd builds
• Strong east winds make the crossing rough, and the water taxis do not run in severe weather or small craft advisories

Peanut Island is a park, not a wilderness, but it is surrounded by busy, fast water.

• Boat traffic and wakes are constant around the island and in the inlet; never wade or swim in the channel
• Currents along the island's edges are strong enough to sweep away a swimmer
• Summer afternoon thunderstorms arrive fast and the island has little cover; plan your return trip early
• There is no food or water for sale, so bring plenty of drinking water and sun protection
• The paver walkway and pier are level, but access depends on the water taxi or boat, which may be difficult for some visitors

The county provides the basics on the island, but no services.

• A fishing pier and designated fishing areas
• Restrooms in several areas, with pole showers for rinsing off
• Picnic areas with grills, pavilions, chiki huts and a campground
• Boat docks on the west and east sides and day-use slips for private boats
• No food, bait, tackle or rental concession on the island; bring everything with you
• The historic John F. Kennedy bunker is closed until further notice

• Buy bait and ice on the mainland before boarding; there is none on the island
• Take the first water taxi of the day to fish the pier before the midday boat crowd; with your own boat or kayak you can arrive at sunrise
• The fishing pier faces the inlet side, which runs clearest on the incoming tide
• Keep your lines well away from the snorkeling lagoon, the swimming beaches and swimmers
• A small cart or backpack makes the walk from the dock easier
• Check the time of the last water taxi before you start fishing

Peanut Island is a Palm Beach County park, and the county's rules are posted on the island.

• Saltwater fishing is allowed in designated areas only, never in the guarded swimming areas; do not swim or snorkel around the fishing pier
• Day use and the fishing pier are open sunrise to sunset
• Collecting tropical fish is restricted in these waters, and spears and knives may not be used to take fish in county park waters; check the county and FWC rules
• The county's fishing pier FAQ says Florida residents fishing from the pier do not need a license; everyone else needs a Florida saltwater fishing license unless exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and release rules; check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything