Miami-Dade Parks has a number of large and small freshwater lakes ideal for boating, stocked for fishing, and some saltwater areas that are popular with anglers. A few of the lakes are reserved for scenic purposes only, as resting sites for waterfowl. On the lakes that allow boating, you can rent paddleboats, kayaks, canoes, sailboats--even banana boats.

A relaxing and rewarding component of Miami-Dade Parks' recreation programs is the Urban Fishing Program, begun by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fishing Commission at Tropical Park (7900 Bird Road) in 1990. The Commission wanted to increase fishing opportunities in urban areas by stocking selected lakes and establishing specific rules and regulations for each area. Through a joint agreement with the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department, the Commission chose the 12-acre freshwater North Lake in Tropical Park as one of its prime fishing sites, and is currently managing it with the latest and newest techniques to insure top fish production.

Currently the Commission and the Park and Recreation Department are involved in new methods of aeration, aquatic plant management, supplemental breeding, channel catfish stocking (fish farming) and water quality monitoring. Coupled with alert supervision, it all makes for some good fishing right here in the middle of south Miami-Dade County. Following is a list of where you can fish, or boat in a Miami-Dade County park.

Freshwater Fishing Locations:

• Amelia Earhart Park
  Fish for largemouth bass in two lakes.
  
  
• Larry and Penny Thompson Park
  Catch bass in the freshwater lake located in the park.
  
  
• Tropical Park
  Catch largemouth bass, blue-gill and catfish in the park's Urban Lake on the north side.

Saltwater Fishing Locations:

• East Greynolds Park
  Here, the lake runs into the nearby Oleta River where you can fish for mullet, grunt and crabs.  
  
  
• Haulover Park and Marina
  Try your luck at tarpon, snook, snapper, or jack along the jetty and the cut leading from Biscayne Bay to the ocean, and on the west side of the park near the picnic area, or charter a drift fishing boat for a half or full day of fishing.
  
  
• Crandon Park and Marina
  Take a fun filled trip and charter a sport fishing boat for a half or full day around Biscayne Bay, the ocean, or to the Bahamas.  
  
  
• Pelican Harbor Marina
  Fish in designated areas, or take a boat out.
  
    
• Matheson Hammock Park and Marina
  You can fish for snapper, mullet and snook under the bridge, past the toll gate on the right side of the park.  
  
  
• Black Point Park and Marina
  Fish by the long channel leading out to the bay for redfish, snapper, and snook.  
  
  
• Homestead Bayfront Park and Marina
  Fishing in designated areas and along the canal and bay areas for barracuda, snapper, mullet and sea bass.