Sawfish Bay Park Fishing

Sawfish Bay Park packs a fishing pier, a waterfront boardwalk and a fish cleaning station into two and a half acres on the Loxahatchee River. It is a comfortable, family-friendly place to fish tidal river water close to the Jupiter Inlet.

• A fishing pier and a boardwalk along the water
• Snook and mangrove snapper in the warm months; sheepshead and black drum in winter
• Restrooms, picnic shelters and a fish cleaning station
• A canoe and kayak launch on the Jupiter Waterway Trail

The park is at 1133 North Alternate A1A in Jupiter, on the south bank of the Loxahatchee River beside the road bridge. The Town of Jupiter runs it.

• Getting there: follow Alternate A1A north through Jupiter to the park at 1133, just before the river
• Hours: sunrise to sunset
• Parking: in the park's marked spaces only
• The walk: short, from the parking area to the boardwalk and the pier
• Surface: boardwalk and pier decking over the water

The Loxahatchee is a tidal river here, and its fish change with the water temperature.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook move back into the river and become active, with jacks and ladyfish chasing bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and mangrove snapper at their best around the pier and the seawall, with the odd tarpon
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, jacks and ladyfish into the river mouth
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings, with an occasional redfish or seatrout

A medium-light spinning rod with 10 to 15 lb braid and a 20 to 25 lb fluorocarbon leader fits most of the fishing here.

• Snook: live shrimp or pilchards free-lined in the current, or a small paddle-tail swimbait worked past the pilings and shadow lines
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a light knocker rig near the pilings
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader dropped tight to the pilings in winter
• Jacks and ladyfish: small jigs and spoons when bait is moving
• Bring a long-handled net; the pier is not a place to lift a big snook by the line

The river rises and falls with two Atlantic tides a day through the Jupiter Inlet, and the current can run hard.

• Moving water is key; the bite usually slows at slack tide
• The incoming tide brings clearer, saltier water from the inlet
• The outgoing tide flushes bait down the river past the seawall and pier
• After heavy rain the river can run dark with fresh water, and the fish move toward the inlet
• Early mornings are best in summer, before the heat and the boat traffic build

The park is small and easy to get around, which makes it good for families.

• Keep lines clear of boats and paddlers using the river and the kayak launch
• The tide runs strongly past the seawall; keep children back from the edge
• Leave the pier and boardwalk at the first thunder of a summer storm
• Carry water and sun protection for the summer heat
• Access: a short walk from the parking area leads to the boardwalk and pier

The park is well set up for a few hours of fishing.

• A fishing pier and a boardwalk along the water
• A fish cleaning station
• Restrooms and a water fountain
• Picnic areas, pavilions and shelters
• A canoe and kayak launch
• No bait shop or food in the park that we could confirm; bring bait and drinks

• Fish the first light hours for snook along the pier and the seawall's shade lines
• Catch pilchards or pinfish with a small sabiki rig for live bait
• In winter, work fiddler crabs slowly around the pilings for sheepshead
• Use the fish cleaning station, and keep the pier and boardwalk clean for others
• Paddle the Jupiter Waterway Trail from the launch to reach quieter water on calm days

Sawfish Bay Park is managed by the Town of Jupiter.

• The park is open sunrise to sunset
• Parking is in designated spaces only
• Alcohol and dogs are not permitted in the park
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and release rules; check FWC before keeping a snook
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything