The City of Deerfield Beach runs Jr. Anglers Day at the International Fishing Pier on Saturday, September 19, and it is one of the better mornings on the local calendar if you have a kid between 5 and 13.
It is $10 per angler. Rods and bait are provided, there are hands-on fishing clinics, arts and crafts, and a goodie bait bucket to take home. It is a long running fixture on the city's calendar.
One thing is worth knowing before you go any further: you have to register in advance, because there is no sign-up on the day. Island Water Sports is there too, set up as a vendor on the pier.
At a glance
- What: Jr. Anglers Day, run by Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation
- When: Saturday, September 19, 2026. Check in from 7:20am, event 8am to 12pm
- Where: Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, 200 NE 21st Ave
- Ages: 5 to 13
- Cost: $10 per angler
- Provided: Rods, bait and a goodie bait bucket
- Register: In advance only, through the city
- Us: Vendor booth on the pier, 8am to 12pm
How the morning runs
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:20am | Check in opens at the pier |
| 7:35am | First fishing group goes on. Seven groups rotate through 30 minute windows |
| 8:00am | The event proper is under way |
| 12:00pm | Event ends, with the last fishing window running to just after noon |
Register first, and check your time slot
This is the part that catches people out. Pre-registration is required, and the city states plainly that same-day registration will not be available. Turning up on the morning hoping to sign a child up will not work.
You also choose a fishing time slot when you register, and it cannot be changed afterwards, so check which slot you were given before you leave the house. A completed waiver is required as well. Registration and the full details are on the city's Jr. Anglers Day page.
What is provided, and what to bring
Rods and bait are provided for every young angler, along with the goodie bait bucket, so you do not need to turn up with tackle. The clinics are run for beginners, and nobody is expected to arrive knowing how to cast.
What is not provided is shade. The pier runs 976 feet straight out over the water with no cover, and even a morning slot in September means real sun. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water bottles are the sensible list, and closed shoes are easier than flip flops on pier boards. Polarised lenses genuinely help on the water, because they cut the glare off the surface so you can actually see what is going on down there.
If you are missing any of it, we are five minutes away: polarised sunglasses for men and women, beach hats and caps, and rash guards for the kids.
Parking
Angler parking at the pier is $10 per 5 hours. If the lot has filled up, our Deerfield Beach parking guide lays out the garage and the other options within walking distance, with the current rates.
Come and say hello
Island Water Sports is at this year's Jr. Anglers Day as a vendor, set up on the pier from 8am to 12pm. There are stickers and giveaways for the kids, and we are happy to talk to anyone whose child has just discovered they like being on the water.
Everything is in one place, so there is no second stop to plan. The fishing, the clinics and our table are all at the International Fishing Pier on NE 21st Avenue.
About the pier
The International Fishing Pier is 976 feet long and open from 6am to 11pm. Outside of event days it normally costs $4 to fish and $2 to sightsee, and it is free for Deerfield Beach residents, veterans, active military and first responders with ID. Rod rental is $20, or $15 for the rod on its own, plus a $25 cash deposit, and there is a bait and tackle counter on the pier.
If the morning turns your kid into a water person, that is the good outcome. Our surf lessons and the Deerfield Beach surf camp run all year, and rentals are there when you want to try something before buying it.
Pier photo by LuizCent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
