Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Lake Worth Lagoon Fishing Guide

Florida

The lagoon behind Palm Beach, dotted with mangrove islands, sand bars, and oyster reefs, where the state guide says snook, tarpon, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead, and jacks are caught.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Lake Worth Lagoon for snook, tarpon, flounder, sheepshead, bluefish and jack crevalle. In October, flounder, sheepshead and bluefish are at their peak, and Lefty's Deceiver, Walking Topwater and Paddle-Tail Swimbait are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles (2 fly, 11 bait and tackle); the closest is Florida Native Bait & Tackle, Inc. in Boynton Beach, about 1 mi away. Jupiter Inlet is about 26 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Snook
Tarpon
Flounder
Sheepshead
Bluefish
Jack Crevalle
JFMAMJJASOND

Peak: best fishing Open, slower

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Plan Ahead

Planning for a Month

Peak in October

Flounder, Sheepshead, Bluefish

Daylight

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Moon

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Typical Weather

85°F high, 73°F low

About 5.9 in of precipitation for the month.

Typical for October, not a forecast. Weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 9 mi away. Check the live conditions on this page before you go.

Ways In

Ramps and Launches on Lake Worth Lagoon

Boat Ramp

Jim Barry Light Harbor Park

Stand Alone Ramp; Fee; Sunrise to Sunset (No Overnight Parking)

Directions

Paddle Launch

Phil Foster Park Paddlecraft Launch Beach

Hand Launch Only; Sunrise to Sunset

Directions

Boat Ramp

Phil Foster Park Boat Ramp

Stand Alone Ramp; Fee; 24 Hours

Directions

From Florida FWC Boat Ramp Inventory (FWC-FWRI). Hours, fees, and conditions change; check with the operator before you go.

What You'll Catch

Lake Worth Lagoon Species

Snook

Snook

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Peak: Mar to Jul

Tarpon

Tarpon

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Peak: Mar to Aug

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Peak: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Peak: Year-round

Bluefish

Bluefish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Peak: May to Oct

Jack Crevalle

Jack Crevalle

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Peak: Mar to Aug

Images: jose_colorado-dapa; U.S. Bureau of Fisheries; NOAA Fisheries; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Duane Raver, USFWS; Caio Henrique G. Cutrim. CC BY-SA 4.0, Public domain, CC BY 4.0.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

10 picks for October. marks species at their peak in October.

  • Lefty's Deceiver #3/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Bluefish

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Jack Crevalle

    Shop This Fly

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Snook

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Snook

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Bluefish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Sheepshead, Snook

  • Live Pinfish and Mullet 3 to 6 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Jack Crevalle, Snook

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Bluefish

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Snook

Fly 9 ft 8 or 9 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 30 to 40 lb bite leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 reel, 20 lb braid with a 30 to 40 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Tarpon

Fly 9 ft 11 or 12 wt rod, floating or intermediate tarpon line, 60 to 80 lb shock tippet.

Spin / Cast 7.5 ft heavy spinning rod, 6000 to 8000 reel, 50 lb braid with an 80 lb leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Sheepshead

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod with a sensitive tip, 3000 reel, 20 lb braid, fiddler crabs on a small strong hook.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Lake Worth Lagoon

Leaders & Tippet

Seaguar Tarpon Leader Material

Heavy fluorocarbon shock leader that survives tarpon jaws and gill plates.

Check Price

Fly Lines

RIO Tarpon Fly Line

A tropical line that stays stiff in heat for long casts to rolling tarpon.

Check Price

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

Check Price

Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

Check Price

Fly Rods

Orvis Clearwater 9 ft 10 wt Fly Rod

Backbone for big flies, heavy wind, and fish that run into the backing.

Check Price

Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

Check Price

Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

Check Price

Buy Local

Rather pick it up in person? Shops near Lake Worth Lagoon:

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Lake Worth Lagoon

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Lake Worth Lagoon

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 26 mi

Jupiter Inlet

The inlet joining the Loxahatchee River and the Intracoastal to the ocean, with a south jetty at Jupiter Beach Park fished for snook, bluefish, sheepshead, and jacks.

Snook · Bluefish · Sheepshead

Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida · About 54 mi

Lake Okeechobee

Shallow 730-square-mile lake known for trophy largemouth in the grass.

Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 70 mi

Biscayne Bay

Flats and mangrove shorelines from Miami to Key Biscayne. Bonefish, permit, and juvenile tarpon.

Bonefish · Tarpon · Spotted Seatrout

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 77 mi

Indian River Lagoon (Vero Beach)

The lagoon along Vero Beach, where creek and river water meets the ocean tide, holding redfish, snook, and tarpon.

Redfish · Snook · Tarpon