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GRAND HAVEN
North Breakwater
Description
The breakwater is 1,650 feet long, with a raised cement walkway in the middle that is 23 feet wide and fully accessible. Lower sections are 8 1/2 feet wide on the channel side and 6 feet wide on the lake side. They are barrier-free; however, there is no accessible route, such as a ramp, to the lower levels.
Access
From the parking lot, a paved walkway leads to the seawall. The seawall features a walkway that is about 7 feet wide, with railings on the channel side. This walkway is 850 feet and runs from the Coast Guard property to the breakwater. Although barrier-free, it may sometimes be partially blocked by drifting sand.
Amenities
The paved lot has 60 parking spaces, three of which are handicap-only, and a barrier-free restroom with vault toilets.
South Breakwater
Description
This structure is approximately 2,150 feet long, including a seawall, and features two lighthouses about 650 feet apart with an elevated, cement walkway in the middle to serve them. This center portion is fully accessible and ranges from 21 to 30 feet wide. Although able-bodied anglers can fish to either side of the elevated section, the corresponding lower walkways are too narrow for wheelchair access, and there is no ramp. The seawall, from which anglers can fish the channel, is 9 feet wide and features 42-inch-high railings.
Access
The breakwater lies within 48-acre Grand Haven State Park. Anglers using Fishermens Parking Lot must have a current state parks sticker affixed to the windshield of their vehicle. A barrier-free paved route leads from this paved parking lot to the adjacent structure. Note: A small City-owned lot, which offers limited free parking, is located 3 blocks from the entrance to Fishermens Parking Lot.
Amenities
Fishermens Parking Lot lot has 130 parking spaces, including six handicap-only spaces. It is open year-round from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. A restroom, which is not barrier-free, serves anglers and the adjacent campground. The day-use area has barrier-free toilets and a food concession stand in summer.
What's Hot?
- Chinook Salmon
- Coho Salmon
- Steelhead
- Yellow Perch
Steelhead and salmon (both coho and chinook) offer action from late March to mid May. A summer fishery for yellow perch exists from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Perch anglers often catch steelhead and salmon as summer winds down. King salmon fishing is good from early August to mid September, followed by steelhead until December.
Tactics
Spin fishermen casting Little Cleos or Mainliners catch the most salmon, which will also hit spawn or wigglers on slider rigs weighted with pyramid sinkers. For perch, tip crappie rigs with lively shiner minnows, or fish with a crappie-rig fly. In late summer, king salmon nail various spoons and plugs treated with glow tape. Fresh spawn, either fished off bottom as a gob or knotted into dime-sized bags, is a hot steelhead bait. For bait, tackle, and updated fishing information, contact Lakeview Marine and Tackle, 1¼2 mile east of US-31 at 24 S. Beechtree St. near Washington St. (616-842-2770). A public boat launch is located on Harbor Island. The Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce is at One South Harbor Dr. (616-842-4910).
Stocking
The DNR annually releases an average of 200,000 chinook fingerlings raised in a net pen at the City marina on the Grand River. Managers also stock upstream locations at Grand Rapids, Lyons, and Lansing and various tributaries with coho and chinook salmon and brown and rainbow trout.
Additional Information
Area Accommodations
Camping is available at Grand Haven State Park (616-847-1309) and Yogi Bears Jellystone Park on US-31, 6 miles south of Grand Haven (800-828-1453).
Map of Access Area & Driving Directions
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North Breakwater
Take the Ferrysburg Exit from US-31 and follow Third St. to North Shore Rd. Drive west 2 miles, then turn south 1¼2 mile to the Coast Guard station. Turn west 0.2 mile to the parking lot.
From the parking lot, a paved walkway leads to the seawall. The seawall features a walkway that is about 7 feet wide, with railings on the channel side. This walkway is 850 feet and runs from the Coast Guard property to the breakwater. Although barrier-free, it may sometimes be partially blocked by drifting sand.
South Breakwater
From US-31 in Grand Haven, follow signs to the Grand Haven State Park entrance.
The breakwater lies within 48-acre Grand Haven State Park. Anglers using Fishermens Parking Lot must have a current state parks sticker affixed to the windshield of their vehicle. A barrier-free paved route leads from this paved parking lot to the adjacent structure. Note: A small City-owned lot, which offers limited free parking, is located 3 blocks from the entrance to Fishermens Parking Lot.
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