Fishing the Boynton Inlet
The Boynton Inlet is one of Palm Beach County's best-known land-based fishing spots, and Ocean Inlet Park's jetty is open 24 hours. Anglers catch snook, mangrove snapper and jacks in the warm months, and pompano, Spanish mackerel and bluefish when the water cools.
What's here
- A jetty on the inlet, open for fishing 24 hours a day.
- 1,100 feet of Intracoastal frontage on the west side of the park.
- 24-hour parking for anglers.
- Restrooms and outdoor showers.
Good to know
Florida requires a saltwater fishing license for most anglers 16 and older, and state size, bag and season limits apply, especially for snook. The rocks are slippery and the inlet current is strong: wear grippy shoes and never climb on wet, wave-washed rocks.
What you'll catch
The inlet funnels baitfish between the Lake Worth Lagoon and the ocean, and predators follow. Snook are the prize, showing up around May and June and again in August and September. Mangrove snapper and crevalle jacks bite through the warm months, and snapper are around most of the year.
When the water cools in fall and winter, pompano, permit, Spanish mackerel and bluefish run along the jetties and beaches, with whiting, croaker and the occasional redfish too. The north jetty, across the inlet, is known for Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper during the fall and winter runs.
Rules
Most anglers 16 and older need a Florida saltwater fishing license, available online from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Snook have strict slot limits and closed seasons, and many inlet species have size and bag limits; check the FWC's current rules before you keep a fish.
Tides and timing
The inlet's current is extremely strong. Many anglers fish the last of the incoming tide and the turn, when baitfish are pushed in and the water is clearest, and dawn, dusk and night are productive for snook. Watch the boats: on busy days, the inlet is full of traffic heading out to sea.
Tips
Bring a long-handled net or bridge gaff for lifting fish up from the jetty, heavier line than you'd use in the lagoon, and pliers for hooks. Live shrimp and pilchards are popular baits. Pack out your line and hooks, which tangle birds and turtles. At night, bring a headlamp and fish with a friend.
See the rest of the park
Inlet Fishing is one of 6 featured areas at Ocean Inlet Park.