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SOUTH HAVEN
Shore anglers have several options, thanks to City-owned parks adjacent to the south and north breakwaters as well as other public property along the Black River. The parks have food concessions and are open from May 15 to September 15 for nominal-fee access to nonresidents (residents enter free via special City passes). No fees are charged at other times.
North Breakwater
Description
The 900-foot-long breakwater is constructed of steel sheet piling and features an accessible cement surface. Anglers can fish on either side of the structure.
Access
The City of South Haven owns North Beach Public Park, including about 1,200 feet of Lake Michigan frontage. Anglers surf fish here or walk across 30 feet of sand from the parking lot to a 24-inch-wide cement walkway that leads westerly to the breakwater 200 feet away. To the east, the walkway continues for another 800 feet, varies in width, and provides fishing access to the Black River channel.
Amenities
A paved lot has 106 parking spaces, four of which are handicap-only. Restrooms are not barrier-free.
South Breakwater
Description
This structure is approximately 2,000 feet long and is comprised of steel sheet piling with a cement deck. The first 770 feet features pipe rails on the river side, and the outer 1,200 feet carries the remains of an abandoned center walkway, either side of which is barrier-free and completely accessible. The lake-side portion contains riprap. Anglers can also fish the shoreline all the way south to Monroe St. and the south side of the Black River from the Dyckman Ave. Bridge.
Access
A barrier-free paved route leads from the paved parking lot to the breakwater.
Amenities
The City-owned park contains about 1,800 feet of Lake Michigan frontage, barrier-free restrooms, and 104 parking spaces, including four handicap-only spaces.
What's Hot?
- Brown Trout
- Chinook Salmon
- Coho Salmon
- Steelhead
- Yellow Perch
Coho salmon provide ice-out action, followed by brown trout and some steelhead until late May. A hit-or-miss fishery for yellow perch occurs in spring, summer and fall. By early August king salmon return to the Black River. A limited steelhead fishery begins in early October and lasts until freeze-up.
Tactics
In spring, a dead smelt or alewife fished off bottom will catch salmon and trout. Bait anglers also score with fresh spawn or wigglers; spincasters toss orange-and-
silver spoons. Yellow perch prefer small shiner minnows in spring and fall and crayfish tails or popcorn shrimp in summer. To catch fall steelhead, toss red-and-silver spoons or bottom fish with steelhead spawn. For bait, tackle, and updated fishing information, contact J.C. Bait and Tackle Shop (a.k.a the Port Hole), 141 Dunkley in South Haven (616-637-6720). The municipal marina has a fee-access launch site. The Greater South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce is at 300 Broadway (616-637-5171).
Stocking
In addition to 50,000 to 100,000 chinook fingerlings released from the Black River net pen each spring, the DNR annually releases 15,000 to 20,000 brown trout and 8,000 to 10,000 steelhead. The trout are yearlings.
Additional Information
Shore anglers have several options, thanks to City-owned parks adjacent to the south and north breakwaters as well as other public property along the Black River. The parks have food concessions and are open from May 15 to September 15 for nominal-fee access to nonresidents (residents enter free via special City passes). No fees are charged at other times.
Area Accommodations
Camping is available at Van Buren State Park, 23960 Ruggles Rd., in South Haven (616-637-2788).
Map of Access Area & Driving Directions
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North Breakwater
Follow Phoenix St. west to Broadway, turn right 1 block to Dyckman, follow Dyckman to N. Shore Dr., turn left to Avery, then right 1 block to Lakeshore Dr. and the park.
The City of South Haven owns North Beach Public Park, including about 1,200 feet of Lake Michigan frontage. Anglers surf fish here or walk across 30 feet of sand from the parking lot to a 24-inch-wide cement walkway that leads westerly to the breakwater 200 feet away. To the east, the walkway continues for another 800 feet, varies in width, and provides fishing access to the Black River channel.
South Breakwater
Take I-196 to Exit 20 (Phoenix St., which becomes Water St.) and drive west 0.8 mile to the parking lot.
A barrier-free paved route leads from the paved parking lot to the breakwater.
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