Parks and Recreation Division

Sean Stickler provides fishing tips to the participants Win a Pond Prowler Boat!

South Florida Kids Bass Fishing Trail

Bass Pro Shops and the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division present the SIXTH ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA KIDS BASS FISHING TRAIL. In its fifth year, this program has become very popular with kids and their parents. Each month we see more and more new faces. Although everyone has learned that catching bass from shore without live bait can be pretty difficult, it's been great to see many of the anglers improve their skills. We have had some great weigh-ins, and the time spent fishing in our parks has provided some terrific family outings.

Anglers must preregister for each tournament.

Tournament dates and locations:

Dates   Locations
April 26, 2008   C.B. Smith Park
June 21, 2008   T.Y. Park
July 12, 2008   Quiet Waters Park
August 16, 2008   C.B. Smith Park
September 6, 2008   Tradewinds Park
November 2008 Wild Card - By Invitation Only
December 2008   Classic TBA - By Invitation Only
 
Locations Address Phone Number
Quiet Waters Park  401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach  954-360-1315
Tradewinds Park  3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek  954-968-3880
T.Y. Park  3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood  954-985-1980
C.B. Smith Park  900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines  954-437-2650

Please call to preregister and confirm the location of each tournament.

Eric Karmen kisses his bass

  • Each angler will receive a weigh bag at their first tournament. Anglers will be responsible for their own weigh bag and will not be allowed to participate without a weigh bag or cooler. Anglers competing in the classic can win rods, reels, lures, and other merchandise. The winner of the classic will receive a Pond Prowler Boat!
  • A presentation will be given by a local bass professional whenever possible at the end of each tournament. The award ceremony will follow.
  • Fishing is from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Anglers must preregister for each tournament. Registration must be completed by 3:30 p.m. the Thursday prior to the tournament date. Anyone through the age of 16 may participate in the tournaments. Anglers need to provide their own tackle, and only artificial lures may be used (no live bait). There is no entry fee, only a $1.50 entrance fee into the parks. These are all catch and release tournaments. All fish must be released for points to count. There will be a dead fish penalty for any fish that does not swim away. Anglers must provide either a weigh bag or cooler to transport live fish to the weigh station. A maximum of 70 anglers (35 in each age category) will be allowed to fish in each tournament. There is a three-fish limit, 10 inch minimum. Only peacock and largemouth bass will count in the tournament. Anyone age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Fishing is restricted to the shore. In the case of a tie, the angler with the biggest fish wins. All tournament committee decisions are final.
  • Points will be accumulated from each tournament. Points will be given to each angler for fishing in each tournament even if he/she does not catch any fish. After the last tournament in October, all participants' points will be totaled, and the top 20 anglers will be invited to fish the Classic.
  • There will be a wild card tournament in November. The top three anglers from the Wild Card tournament will be invited to fish in the Classic. To be eligible for the Wild Card tournament, the angler must fish in three previous tournaments that year. There will be no age group categories in the Wild Card tournament or the Classic. Anglers already eligible to fish the Classic will not be eligible to fish in the Wild Card tournament. There will be no points awarded for this tournament.
  • First through third place prizes will be awarded for both smallfry and junior age categories. Smallfry is through age 10 and junior is through age 16. Angler of the Year awarded to the angler with the most points accumulated after the Classic in December. The winner of the South Florida Junior Classic will win an eight-foot Pond Prowler with trolling motor.
  • For additional information, please contact Gary Waingrow at 954-306-3441 or Bob Newland at 954-985-1980 or rnewland@broward.org.

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Some Sixth Annual South Florida Junior Classic Catches

Smile! Good catch! Fishing at Tradewinds
Tips from the expert Getting tips on catching fish Relaxing and fishing

Winning catches!

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Junior Bass Tournament Trail

Sponsored by:
Gambler Worms Bass Pro Shops

Big bass catch!If you think you are ready to compete in bass fishing against kids your own age and you have a boat of your own, then the Tenth Annual Junior Bass Tournament Trail may be just for you. Sponsored by the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division along with Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Gambler Worms, the program is designed to provide real bass tournament competition experience for ages 12 to 17.

Fishing from electric trolling motored boats in three Broward County parks, the competition will take place January through April 2008. The sites will include Tradewinds Park, Quiet Waters Park and C.B. Smith Park.

Tournament dates and locations:

Dates   Locations
April 19, 2008   Tradewinds Park
 
Locations Address Phone Number
Quiet Waters Park  401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach  954-360-1315
Tradewinds Park  3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek  954-968-3880
C.B. Smith Park  900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines  954-437-2650
 
Junior Bass Trail - January 19, 2008 at Tradewinds Park - Results:
 
This year's tournament trail got off to a great start with 18 boats participating and half the field weighing in 5 fish limits. A total of 62 bass were brought to the scale!
 
1st place Cody Dolan   9.60 lbs
2nd place Jesse Taggi  9.00 lbs
3rd place Austin Newland  8.75 lbs
4th place Matt Wieteha  8.70 lbs
5th place Brian Marco  7.90 lbs
Big Bass Brian Marco  3.90 lbs
 
Special thanks to Bass Pro Shops, Gambler Lures, and Bill Lewis Lures. Bill Lewis Lures donated 24 new Rat-L-Trap tail chaser lures for this event.
 
 
Junior Bass Trail - February 23, 2008 at C.B. Smith Park - Results:

The second tournament at C.B. Smith Park was an example of how tough fishing can be. Only 24 bass were brought to the scale. Kenny Finley spent all day in one spot to catch his limit, and Tyler Nekolny spent two hours getting his big fish, which was on a bed, to bite. Now that's patience! In both cases it paid off.

1st place Kenny Finley  5.00 lbs
2nd place Josh Hayes  4.40 lbs
3rd place Tyler Nekolny
Austin Newland
 4.30 lbs
 4.30 lbs
4th place Cody Dolan  3.15 lbs

Special thanks to Captain Dave Jefford of Crystal River, Florida, who donated 20 hand carved, hand painted lures to the participants. These baits are works of art and no doubt catch fish. To find out more about these beautiful lures, email fisherford@xtalwind.net. Another big thank you to Sean Stickler, local bass pro from the FLW tour, who conducted a fishing clinic for all the participants from his boat and trailer.  Sean provided some great advice, tips and giveaways, along with answering everyone's questions on tournament bass fishing.

 What a catch!  Loads of fish!  All smiles when the catching is good!
 I caught this!  I caught two!  Four fish!
 Here's my catch!  Big fish!  Look at this catch!
 
Junior Bass Trail - March 29, 2008 at Quiet Waters Park - Results:
 
Fishing at Quiet Waters was great with a total of 64 fish weighed in.  Nine 5 fish limits were brought to the scale and the competition was close.
 
1st place Garret George   11.40 lbs
2nd place Cody Davis  11.25 lbs
3rd place Matt Wieteha  10.10 lbs
4th place Eric Karman  9.05 lbs
5th place Austin Newland    7.90 lbs
Big Bass Cody Davis  4.55 lbs

Tournament point totals will be compiled over the four months of competition. The participant with the most points at the end of four months will be the Junior Angler of the Year and will win a special prize package. The cost of the program is $60 per participant, and each participant must be accompanied by an adult of eighteen years or older. The adult will not be permitted to fish during the competition. For registration and more information about this unique program, contact Bob Newland at 954-985-1980 ext. 228.

2007 Bass Trail Facts
Biggest bass caught 6.0 lbs.
Heaviest five fish limit 13.05 lbs.
Total number of bass weighed in 184
Total weight of all bass weighed in 287 lbs.
Average weight per bass 1.55 lbs.
Best tournament location Quiet Waters Park
Jr. Angler of the Year Stephen Biles, age 15 of Dania Beach
Tournament prize package Worth approximately $1,800
Biggest bass caught in the last nine years 7.9 lbs. at Tradewinds Park
Heaviest five fish limit caught in the last nine years 17.57 lbs. at Tradewinds Park

You don't have a boat? No Problem! If you don't own a boat, you can still enjoy some great fishing in our park system. T.Y. Park, Tradewinds Park, C.B. Smith Park, and Quiet Waters Park all rent boats that you can fish from for a minimal fee on weekends and holidays. You can fish from a pedal boat or a rowboat. You can do it by rowing or pedaling - the lakes are just the right size for this - or you can bring your own electric trolling motor and battery to use with a rowboat. Tradewinds Park will even supply the motor and battery for you. It's a great way to get out and exercise with the added bonus of catching some nice fish at the same time. Call ahead for boat rental hours and availability or check out the individual park information listed on this website.
 

Did you know there are many parks in Broward County that have great fishing areas? With fishing being the second most popular sport in the U.S., it's time you knew what Broward County Parks and Recreation has to offer. (Applicable licenses are required for those over age 16 and under age 65.)

The following information about Broward County Parks fishing comes from John Cimbaro, Biological Scientist III, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The Plantation Heritage Fish Management Area (in Plantation Heritage Park) has fair to good bream (bluegill and redear sunfish) fishing, good bass fishing, and good catfishing.

Plantation Heritage Fishing Guide

There are three fish feeders on site, and near those feeders are the best locations to fish for the bream and catfish. Channel catfish are stocked annually (4,000 fish/year), and catfish up to 12.5 pounds have been caught at Heritage. The area is also very scenic. Fishing is allowed from the shore only, not from any of the rental boats. Because it is a Fish Management Area, there are other restrictions as well, such as only one pole per person-even with a cane pole, and you must have a valid fresh water fishing license if you are older than 16 or under age 65.

T.Y. Park is not good for bream fishing, but very good for bass fishing. The best fishing is from boats (pedalboats and rowboats are available for rent at T.Y. Park). C.B. Smith Park has fair bass with exotic spotted tilapia and a growing population of peacock bass present. There are boat rentals at the marina but lots of shoreline fishing places as well. Quiet Waters Park has good bass fishing, good shorline access, and is a farily scenic location to fish. Boats and food concessions are available at the Lakeview Marina. You may bring your own electric trolling motor for use on the rowboats. Fishing is permitted along any shore except at Splash Adventure Swimming Beach and the Ski Rixen Lake.

For all-around fishing, a good setup is a #8 Aberdeen hook fished about three feet under a one-inch bobber. A small split shot near the hook will keep your bait down where the fish can spot it. Recommended baits include live worms, crickets, cut hot dogs, and doughballs. All these baits, especially the live worms, will catch most kinds of fish but are especially good for bream. Good lures for bream include tiny jigs, beetle spins, or spinners. For bass, use larger hooks (1/0 or larger). The best bass bait is live shiner. Good lures for bass include plastic worms (black works well most of the time), minnow imitating lures, and spinnerbaits. Good baits for catfish include chicken or beef liver and live worms (catfish rarely strike lures). Use 1/0 or larger hooks for catfish and fish on the bottom rather than using a bobber.

Fishing Line in Water Here is some information about other Broward County parks that have fishing areas:

  • Tree Tops Park: Fishing is allowed along lake banks, and boats are available daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (return by 5 p.m.). Tree Tops also offers canoe instruction for those who are not familiar with this kind of boating for fishing.
  • Tradewinds Park: Has lots of shoreline fishing on both north and south sides of this park. It is recommended that you call ahead about boat rental availability if you want to go out on the lake on the south side. The park offers rowboats equipped with electric trolling motors and battery for fisherman for the same rental rate as their other boats with just an extra $25 deposit. Tradewinds is the best Broward County Park for catching peacock bass, which are becoming more abundant on the south side.
  • Deerfield Island: Primary locations are the marina and west of the picnic area on the Hillsboro Canal.
  • Easterlin Park: Shoreline fishing only. There are no boat rentals.
  • Delevoe Park: Fishing in the lake from shore only; no boat rentals.
  • Markham Park: Several lakes and access to the levy leading to the Everglades through Markham Park for great fishing as well. People also fish in the south and west canals that run along the two sides of the park. There are boat rentals as well.
  • Brian Piccolo Park: Along the back lake on the dock and west of the dock. No boats allowed.
  • West Lake Park: Fishing is allowed from boats out on the water in West Lake Park. A wide variety of salt water species can be caught in West Lake including snook, sheepshead, black drum, and mangrove snapper. In addition, fishing is allowed from all sides from the Sheridan Street bridge that crosses the lake and off the Fishing Trail boardwalk/fishing pier. Lastly, fishing is allowed from the South Trail into the intracoastal waterway along the path that goes under the west side of the intracoastal bridge and continuing along the west side of the intracoastal waterway. The boats in West Lake can't use fossil fuels (electric or self-propelled only).
  • Hollywood North Beach Park: Fishing is allowed off all the fishing piers on the east side of the intracoastal waterway and from the park shorelines as well.

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Winning catches