Fishing in Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie anglers fish from two city ramp parks on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, two city lakes and the marsh of Savannas Preserve State Park.

Among the City of Port St. Lucie park listings tagged with the amenity Fishing Permitted are C-24 Canal Park at 500 SE Oakridge Drive (City of Port St. Lucie, C-24 Canal Park), Veterans Park at Rivergate at 2200 SE Veterans Memorial Parkway (City of Port St. Lucie, Veterans Park at Rivergate) and Midport Lake Park at 2010 S.E. Veterans Memorial Parkway (City of Port St. Lucie, Midport Lake Park). The city's McCarty Ranch Preserve page describes a lake system spanning over 300 acres that it calls perfect for fishing, canoeing and kayaking (City of Port St. Lucie, McCarty Ranch Preserve). On the state side, Savannas Preserve State Park says canoeing, kayaking and fishing in its wetlands are popular activities (Florida State Parks, Savannas Preserve State Park).

Each of these sites has its own hours and rules, set out below. Saltwater fishing at the Fort Pierce Inlet is covered in the Fort Pierce Jetty Park guide, and piers elsewhere in St. Lucie and Indian River counties in the Treasure Coast public fishing piers guide.

Last verified: October 22, 2026, after reloading the four Port St. Lucie park pages, the Savannas Preserve State Park page, the North Fork aquatic preserve page, two St. Lucie County parks pages and the FWC snook and license pages.

Port St. Lucie runs two river ramp parks, Veterans Park at Rivergate, whose three ramps never close, and C-24 Canal Park, whose four lanes operate from 8 a.m. until sunset; St. Lucie County lists White City Park and River Park Marina as its river ramps.

Sources: the city pages for C-24 Canal Park, Veterans Park at Rivergate, Midport Lake Park and McCarty Ranch Preserve, and the Savannas Preserve State Park page. C-24 Canal Park says its ramps give direct river and ocean access and lists about 11 parking spaces for single vehicles besides the trailer spaces; the park phone is 772-878-2277. Veterans Park adds a handicapped boat entry lift, available by contacting Parks and Recreation staff, and was established in 1984.

St. Lucie County's ramp list names White City Park and River Park Marina as its St. Lucie River boat ramps, listed apart from its intracoastal ramps (St. Lucie County boat ramp list). The state's North Fork aquatic preserve page names White City Park and River Park Marina among its boat access points too, and its parking list adds a marina and the Oxbow Eco-Center (DEP North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve).

For anglers without a boat, the city points to the lighted Riverwalk Boardwalk at Veterans Park at Rivergate and to Midport Lake Park, a 12 acre open space park on Veterans Memorial Parkway.

The Riverwalk Boardwalk at Veterans Park is lit, runs through natural habitat and is listed for fishing, and the park is open 24/7 with ADA unisex restrooms and free Wi-Fi (Veterans Park at Rivergate). Midport Lake Park, on the same parkway, is listed as undeveloped, unimproved open space with off street parking, no restrooms, an outdoor fitness station and dogs allowed on leash; its fishing permission comes with the note no gas engines, and it opens 8 a.m. to sunset (Midport Lake Park).

Veterans Park at Rivergate is one of the access points DEP lists for the North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve, a river and estuary preserve, while Midport Lake Park is a city park on a lake. FWC's license page lists freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing licenses separately (FWC license page).

McCarty Ranch Preserve allows fishing with a Florida freshwater fishing license for anyone 16 or older, but bans wading, swimming and gas powered motorized watercraft, and allows kayaks and canoes only in designated areas.

The city's preserve guidelines also require personal flotation devices for all occupants of kayaks and canoes, note that no lifeguard is on duty, and warn of alligators, snakes, bobcats, panthers, feral hogs and other wildlife on natural, uneven terrain (McCarty Ranch Preserve guidelines). Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and dogs need a current rabies vaccination. The page says that as of March 2025, a boat permit is no longer required.

The preserve covers 3,107 acres of old Florida pinelands and lakes formed from former mining operations, acquired by the City of Port St. Lucie in 2012, and the city says it aims to serve as a water storage and treatment facility, with recreation complementing its primary role in meeting the city's utility needs. The entrance is at 12525 Range Line Road, west of I-95, south of the Glades Cut Off Road and Range Line Road intersection; the city's directions from the north run four miles south on Range Line Road from Glades Cut Off Road. Alcoholic beverages and fires are banned without a camping reservation, and primitive tent sites cost $20 per night plus tax.

The North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve is a 2,972 acre state preserve in St. Lucie and Martin counties, established in 1972, where the Department of Environmental Protection lists fishing among the main activities and asks boaters to stay off seagrass.

DEP says a 16 mile portion of the North Fork was designated as an aquatic preserve in 1972, and that the St. Lucie River is divided into four sections: North Fork, South Fork, Middle Estuary and Lower Estuary (DEP North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve). The preserve is open 24/7, but only through access points run by others; DEP's boat access list for the North Fork is White City Park, River Park Marina, Veterans Park at Rivergate, C-24 Canal Park and Savannas Preserve State Park. The preserve's office line is 772-448-5930.

For rules, DEP sends anglers to current FWC saltwater fishing and boating regulations and adds its own warning: seagrass is protected within aquatic preserves, boaters should avoid shallow waters and raise the motor over seagrass, and damage to seagrass can bring a fine of up to $1,000. DEP's visitor answer for the best time to visit the North Fork is year round, with winter the coolest weather and calmer waters in the summer.

Port St. Lucie sits inside FWC's Indian River Lagoon snook region: a 28 to 32 inch slot, one snook a day, and closed seasons December 15 to January 31 and June 1 to August 31.

For Port St. Lucie anglers the boundary is FWC's: on its map the region's coastline starts at Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach and ends at the county line between Martin and Palm Beach, and inland waters colored yellow on that map are included (FWC snook regulations). Keeping a snook takes both a snook permit and a recreational fishing license, gear is hook and line only, and the fish must stay whole until landed ashore. FWC adds that a snook permit cannot be refunded, even if the species is closed when the angler plans to fish.

FWC's license page lists exemptions from recreational fishing licenses that include anyone younger than 16, plus Florida residents aged 65 and up who carry proof of age or residency or hold the optional no cost Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish Certificate, which county tax collector offices and the state license website issue (FWC license exemptions). McCarty Ranch adds its own condition on top: the city page requires a Florida freshwater fishing license there for anglers 16 or older.