Within 10 miles of Beverly Hills, FL · Updated 2026-07-12Beverly Hills sits almost dead center in Citrus County, close enough to both Crystal River and Inverness that families here get real variety: spring-fed saltwater fishing one direction, quiet freshwater lakes the other. None of it is more than a 20-minute drive. Keep an eye out for gators near the reedy lake edges and bring water, shade is scarce at a few of these spots.
Top-Rated Fishing Spots Near Beverly Hills
1. Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier (Crystal River)
Leaving Beverly Hills, you're looking at about 13 min without traffic, close enough that the kids won't gripe about the car ride.
Location: 268 NW 3rd Street, Crystal River, FL 34429
Spring-fed water brings fresh and salt fish to the same pier: Kings Bay Park's 170-foot dock reaches over the kind of bay where species lines blur because of first-magnitude spring input. Shade structures and a playground round out the amenities. Manatees are common winter visitors, and the motorboat ban keeps the water peaceful.
Good to know: shade structures, playground, restrooms, manatee viewing, boat ramp.
Parent tip: Aim for the T-shaped end of the pier, it's the widest section and gives the most room to spread out without crossing lines.
For current hours and seasonal closures, see the official Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier page.
2. Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp (Crystal River)
Out of Beverly Hills, plan for about 13 min in the car, which makes Crystal River an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Beverly Hills.
Location: North Suncoast Boulevard (Route 19/98), Crystal River, FL 34428
A five-mile canal path with covered rest stops built in: Cross Florida Greenway near Beverly Hills stretches five miles with roughly mile-spaced covered piers for shade on the western section. Dirt road access puts the water steps from your car. No boat needed, no launch fee, just bank fishing you can stop and start as the mood fits.
Good to know: covered fishing piers, boat ramp, shore fishing, shade structures, restrooms.
Parent tip: Skip the boat entirely, drive the dirt road on the canal's western half and fish straight from the bank at any of the covered piers.
3. Duval Island Drive Boat Ramp - Tsala Apopka Floral City Pool (Floral City)
Coming from Beverly Hills, expect about 13 min without traffic, and Floral City has plenty nearby to make a half-day of it.
Location: 7790 South Duval Island Drive, Floral City, FL 34436
A quieter Tsala Apopka pool north of the bigger launch crowds: Duval Island Drive near Floral City fishes the smallest and calmest piece of the Tsala Apopka chain. Cypress trees edge the banks, lily pads mark the shallows, and largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker, and speckled perch all cooperate. Beverly Hills families find it less crowded than the central Inverness scene.
Good to know: boat ramp, lake access, bass fishing, trailer parking, free.
Parent tip: Weekends fill the main lot fast, overflow parking off Orange Avenue is your backup if you arrive after mid-morning.
Hours and amenities shift with the season — confirm today's on the Duval Island Drive Boat Ramp - Tsala Apopka Floral City Pool city page.
4. Pete's Pier Boat Ramp - Crystal River Marina (Crystal River)
If you're based in Beverly Hills, it's about 13 min without traffic, worth combining with other Crystal River stops.
Location: 1 Southwest 1st Place, Crystal River, FL 34429
Crystal River's easiest entry for Beverly Hills families without a trailer: Pete's Pier, the largest freshwater marina in town, handles rentals, bait, and parking all together. Snook, redfish, trout, and tarpon are standard catches. Whether you rent a boat or book a charter, the setup keeps logistics light.
Good to know: boat ramp, bait shop, boat rentals, marina, ample parking.
Parent tip: No boat of your own? Rent one here by the half or full day, the live bait shop on site saves an extra stop.
5. Fort Cooper State Park - Lake Holathlikaha (Inverness)
Driving from Beverly Hills, about 14 min without traffic gets you there, easy to pair with a lunch stop in Inverness.
Location: 3100 S. Old Floral City Rd, Inverness, FL 34450
The state park where private boats are prohibited for a reason: Fort Cooper State Park protects Lake Holathlikaha by banning motors and private craft, which keeps the whole 710 acres peaceful. Bank fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and sunfish works great in calm water. Trails span nearly 5 miles and a playground sits on site for younger kids between casts.
Good to know: lake fishing, hiking trails, kayak rentals, picnic areas, restrooms, playground.
Parent tip: Private boats aren't allowed on Lake Holathlikaha, so plan on bank fishing or renting a park canoe or kayak if the water level allows it.
Planning a specific day? Check the Fort Cooper State Park - Lake Holathlikaha status page for closures first.
6. Cooter Pond Park (Inverness)
For a family coming from Beverly Hills, the drive clocks in at about 15 min without traffic, an easy add-on if you're already headed toward Inverness.
Location: 181 US Highway 41 South, Inverness, FL 34450
Downtown Inverness's short boardwalk pond, better for the experience than the size of the catch: Cooter Pond Park lets you fish for bluegill and small bass while turtles, herons, and egrets share the same water. It's lit up at night with colored lights and sits close enough to the historic courthouse to combine with a quick walk through downtown Inverness.
Good to know: fishing boardwalk, wildlife viewing, picnic areas, free.
Parent tip: Watch small kids near the boardwalk edge, gators in the 4 to 7 foot range are regularly seen here alongside the turtles the park is named for.
7. Wallace Brooks Park (Inverness)
For Beverly Hills families, plan about 14 min each way, and Inverness is easy to get around once you're there.
Location: 328 E Dampier Street, Inverness, FL 34450
The 1968-built dock that still manages boats and anglers smoothly: Wallace Brooks Park handles the junction of Henderson Lake and Cooter Lake where the wider Tsala Apopka system flows. A playground's on site for younger kids, and the Withlacoochee State Trail offers an escape route if fishing gets slow and legs need stretching.
Good to know: fishing dock, boat ramp, playground, restrooms, lake access.
Parent tip: Cross the boardwalk to Liberty Park when you're done, it's a short walk and turns one stop into two fishing spots.
How we picked these
We searched public fishing access in every direction from Beverly Hills, boat ramps, piers, and downtown lake parks, and kept only real, free or low-cost public spots. Distance, shade, and restrooms all factored into the ranking. No private clubs, no paid placements.
Planning your visit
Both the coastal and freshwater options fish year-round, with spring and fall the most comfortable seasons weather-wise. Anyone 16 or older needs a Florida fishing license from gooutdoorsflorida.com. Summer storms build fast in the afternoon, so plan mornings June through September, and keep dogs at home, several of these city parks don't allow them.
For more kids' events near Beverly Hills this week, see the Beverly Hills events page.
Beverly Hills Kid Fishing Checklist
- A rod sized for small hands: a short push-button spincast combo is far easier for a child to cast than a long rod, and it tangles less.
- Pinch the barbs flat: a quick squeeze with pliers turns any hook barbless. It comes out of a fish (or a thumb) in seconds and barely affects your catch rate.
- Sun protection and water: hats, SPF 50+, and a full bottle each. Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier and most spots on this list sit out in open sun with little shade on the bank.
- Pliers, a small first-aid kit, and snacks: pliers for hooks, the kit for the occasional poke, and snacks because kid patience runs on a short clock.
Fishing Piers, Stocked Ponds & Places to Fish Near Beverly Hills
- Fishing piers: Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier, Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp and Pete's Pier Boat Ramp - Crystal River Marina have a fishing pier: a stable, railed platform over deeper water, the easiest place to start a young kid without wading the bank.
- Bank fishing: Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp, Duval Island Drive Boat Ramp - Tsala Apopka Floral City Pool and Fort Cooper State Park - Lake Holathlikaha have open, walkable shoreline to cast straight from land, no boat or pier needed.
- Open water: Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier, Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp, Duval Island Drive Boat Ramp - Tsala Apopka Floral City Pool and Pete's Pier Boat Ramp - Crystal River Marina step up to a full lake with a boat ramp when your kids outgrow the city ponds.
Licenses, Limits, and Catch-and-Release
- Know the license rule: most states require a fishing license for adults while kids fish free, check your state wildlife agency for the exact age cutoff before you go.
- Check bag and length limits: each species has its own keep limits, posted on your state wildlife agency's site. When in doubt, release it.
- Handle fish with wet hands: dry hands strip the slime coat that protects a fish. Wet your hands first, support the belly, and keep it out of the water only as long as a photo takes.
- Pack out your line: discarded fishing line tangles birds and turtles. A zip bag for old line and hooks keeps the bank safe for the next family.
Beverly Hills Fishing Spots, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best fishing spots for kids near Beverly Hills, FL?
Our 2026 guide picks 7 standout fishing spots within about 10 miles of Beverly Hills. The top picks include Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier, Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp and Duval Island Drive Boat Ramp - Tsala Apopka Floral City Pool, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Which fishing spots near Beverly Hills are free?
4 of the 7 fishing spots in this guide are free to visit, including Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp, Duval Island Drive Boat Ramp - Tsala Apopka Floral City Pool and Cooter Pond Park. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest fishing spot to Beverly Hills?
Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier in Crystal River is the closest pick at about 8.4 miles from Beverly Hills. It's the easiest one to fit into a weekday afternoon, short drive, low commitment, easy to leave early if the kids melt down.
Do I need a fishing license to fish near Beverly Hills?
In most states an adult needs a fishing license while kids fish free; check your state's wildlife agency for the exact age cutoff. Most of the spots in this guide are free public access, check the official page linked on each card for parking, pier hours, and any local rules.
Are there fishing piers or stocked ponds near Beverly Hills?
Yes, Kings Bay Park - Roger Goettelmann Memorial Fishing Pier, Cross Florida Greenway Boat Ramp, Pete's Pier Boat Ramp - Crystal River Marina have a fishing pier. A pier gives kids a stable, railed spot over deeper water, and a stocked pond means there are actually fish biting, both make the difference on a first trip. Each card above notes what that spot has.