The best fishing hole? Tropical Park named a top spot in U.S. poll

It’s probably not the first, second or even the third place most South Floridian fishermen think of as a hot spot, but Tropical Park was voted one of the country’s top 100 family fishing and boating spots in a nationwide poll.

The park, 7900 SW 40th Street in West Miami-Dade, is probably best known for hosting Santa’s Enchanted Forest in the winter and for its wealth of athletic facilities. Tropical was one of seven parks in the state on the list, along with Everglades National Park and Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys.

More than 23,000 outdoor enthusiasts voted in the poll, according to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing campaign. Criteria for the top places to fish and boat included having a public body of water within an hour of a major city with good fishing opportunities and family-friendly amenities.

The release of Take Me Fishing’s Top 100 list was timed to kick off the National Fishing and Boating Week, which is taking place through Sunday.

Tropical Park, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is also one of four county parks this summer hosting fishing camps for kids ages 9 to 15 who want to improve their fishing skills, learn about fish biology and safe boating practices.

The freshwater camps cost $145 a week, plus a one-time annual registration fee of $12.

▪ The first camp at Amelia Earhardt Park began Monday and runs through June 19.

▪ Larry and Penny Thompson Park will host camp from June 22 to July, and Tropical will host it from July 6 through 24.

▪ Crandon Park will host a Saltwater Fishing Camp from July 27 to Aug. 14. That costs $225 a week, not including the $12 annual registration fee.

For more information on the camps, call 305-662-4124.

This story was originally published June 10, 2015 at 12:42 PM with the headline "The best fishing hole? Tropical Park named a top spot in U.S. poll."