Walk down the 287-metre-long Deerfield Beach Pier stretching out from the coast at Deerfield Beach and feel the breeze in your hair while taking in the beautiful view, or rent a fishing rod and try your hand at scoring a snapper, bluefish, or king mackerel whilst chatting with the other fishermen at the recently renovated pier.
Popular with the locals, Deerfield Beach boasts a “Blue Wave” status from the Clean Beach Coalition, ticking all the boxes of a well-maintained beach, such as excellent water quality, cleanliness and conservation efforts. Jump into the warm water for a swim along the 1.6-kilometre stretch, which is patrolled by lifeguards daily, or soak up the sun on the white sand beach. Skilled surfers will prefer to head to the excellent waves north of the pier, while beginners should stick to the gentler, easier waves south of Tower 9. Play a round of beach volleyball at one of the many free volleyball nets set up on the sand, which are available on a first come, first served basis.
After a day out on the beach, treat yourself to a meal in one of the many restaurants along the lively NE Second Street. Being parallel to the ocean, many of the restaurants offer sea views. Diners will be spoiled for choice when it comes to food, with anything from Mexican favourites and fresh seafood to classic steak and ribs. In the evenings, some restaurants offer live jazz and other music.
The pier is open 24 hours a day from Thursday through to Sunday and closes between midnight and 6 am Monday through to Thursday. There is a small admission charge for sightseers, while fishermen pay a little more. Rod rental is available and there and bait can be bought at the pier. There are also stations for cutting bait and rinsing freshly-caught fish in fresh water. For fishing novices, fishing classes are held at the pier every second Saturday. Space is limited to the first 25 applicants, so arrive early to learn about sea fishing from the experts.
Deerfield Beach Pier is about a 25-minute drive north of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Free parking is available.
