By John Piotrowski
One of the best-kept secrets in South Florida fishing is that you do not need to run offshore to find great action. The canals of Lighthouse Point and the surrounding communities hold an impressive variety of fun fish to catch year-round. On any given day, anglers may encounter snook, tarpon, jack crevalle, mangrove snapper, catfish and lots of puffers. The key is to fish around structure and in areas with moving water around docks, seawalls, bridges, and canal intersections. Bait is likely to congregate in these areas or around lights at night.
During the daytime, live bait is hard to beat. Small pilchards, threadfin herring, shrimp, and finger mullet fished along seawalls and dock pilings can get a hungry snook and snapper to bite. Artificial lures such as paddle tails, jerk baits, and topwater plugs can also be highly effective, especially during the early morning hours before boat traffic increases. My son loves to troll as we are coming in and out of our canal. More often than not, he hooks up with a jack or snook or the occasional lizard fish. The incoming tide typically brings cleaner water, and the fish seem to be more active.
When the sun goes down and the temperature drops just a degree or two, fishing can get even better. Dock lights create feeding stations that attract baitfish, which in turn attract predators. Snook and tarpon frequently patrol the edges of the light, waiting to ambush unsuspecting bait. Small live pilchards, shrimp, or white soft-plastic lures worked naturally through the transition between light and dark can produce exciting strikes. Many experienced local anglers consider nighttime to be the most productive time to target larger snook.
Whether you are fishing from a boat, kayak, jet ski or your own backyard dock, the Lighthouse Point canal system offers outstanding opportunities close to home. Pay attention to the tides, look for areas holding bait, and fish patiently around structure. You may be surprised at the quality of fish swimming right behind your house. Sometimes the best fishing trip of the summer is only a few steps from your back door or while you’re on your way to your destination.
The Lighthouse Point Saltwater Sportsmen’s Association usually has a mini-season party and participates in local lobster diving parties. For more information, attend a meeting or reach out to the club via the website www.LHPSSA.org
Lobster Mini-Season
With the lobster mini-season approaching (July 29-30, 2026 – the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July each year), I thought it would be an opportune time to review a few safety reminders. The two-day mini-season brings thousands of additional boaters onto South Florida waters, making patience and situational awareness more important than ever. Leave the dock early and tell someone your game plan. Double-check all your safety equipment is onboard and functioning as it should. Divers should always display a dive flag, remain within the legal distance of the flag, and use a spotter whenever possible.
Respect other divers and boats by giving them plenty of room. Mini-season can be one of the most enjoyable times of the year. Let’s enjoy it safely.
