Darst Park Fishing

Darst Park is a no-frills county boat-ramp park on the Peace River east of Punta Gorda, where you can fish the bank for the redfish and snook that work this brackish stretch near the I-75 bridge.

• Bank fishing for reds and snook, plus winter sheepshead and trout
• Juvenile tarpon, jacks and young bull sharks in the warm months
• Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with ramp parking around the clock
• The boarding pier is closed for storm repairs

The park is on Darst Avenue off the east side of Punta Gorda, on the south bank of the Peace River less than a mile upriver of the I-75 bridge.

• Parking: limited space at the end of Darst Avenue for ramp users; county boat-ramp parking is normally pay-to-park, but the county says ramp and beach parking fees are temporarily suspended, so check the signs
• Vehicles with a state disabled parking permit park free at county parks and ramps when the permit holder is present
• Hours: the park is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the county's parking hours at its boat ramps run around the clock
• The boarding pier beside the ramp is closed after hurricane damage; the county's repair project for it is in design and permitting, and the seawall was damaged too

This is the brackish lower Peace River, so saltwater fish push up on the dry-season tides and drop back when summer rain freshens the river.

• Spring (Mar–May): redfish and snook along the bank, black drum moving through, juvenile tarpon arriving
• Summer (Jun–Aug): juvenile tarpon rolling early, snook, jacks, young bull sharks and catfish
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and snook feeding before winter, jacks chasing bait
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and seatrout in the deeper water around the I-75 area, snook sheltering in the river from cold fronts

Medium spinning tackle and natural baits do most of the work.

• Reds and snook: live shrimp or a small pinfish on a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook with 20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon, cast to the edge of deeper water and fished on the bottom or under a popping cork
• Artificials: a gold spoon, paddletail or jerkbait worked along the bank early and late
• Sheepshead and black drum: shrimp or fiddler crabs on a short leader with a 1 oz egg sinker
• Juvenile tarpon: small swimbaits or live shrimp at first light
• Sharks: heavier rod, wire leader and cut bait, with the free FWC shore-based shark permit

Charlotte Harbor tides are small and mixed, usually two uneven highs and lows a day and sometimes only one, and in the river the flow of fresh water shapes the fishing as much as the tide.

• The water off the ramp is very shallow, so the higher half of the tide gives the best reach and moving water fishes best
• Summer rains turn the river fresh and dark; fish tend to drop downriver then
• Dry spells in spring let saltier water and redfish push upriver
• Winter cold fronts send snook, sheepshead and trout into the deeper river channel
• Dawn and dusk beat the midday heat in summer

A working boat ramp with a storm-damaged seawall, so watch your footing.

• Launching and retrieving boats come first: never fish from the ramp or block the approach
• The seawall and boarding pier were damaged in recent hurricanes; stay out of any fenced or taped-off areas
• Alligators and young bull sharks both live in the brackish river; don't wade and keep kids and dogs back from the edge
• Summer afternoon storms bring lightning; leave at the first thunder
• No shade or restrooms are listed, so bring water and sun protection
• The county lists no accessible fishing facilities here

Facilities are minimal.

• Boat ramp and a kayak launch point
• Picnic tables
• No restrooms are listed, so plan ahead
• The boarding pier is closed until repairs are finished
• No bait, tackle or food in the park, so bring live shrimp and supplies with you
• No lighting is listed for night fishing, and the park itself closes at 9 p.m.

• Old local advice for this park is simple: fish the bank for reds and snook on the moving tide
• The water off the ramp is very shallow at low tide; come on the higher half of the tide
• In winter, sheepshead and trout move to the deeper water around the I-75 area; fish slow on the bottom
• Bring a landing net and long-nose pliers for snook gill plates
• Keep your gear tight to the bank so ramp users can get past
• Launch a kayak here to reach the quieter bends and docks upriver

Darst Park is run by Charlotte County Community Services; follow the posted park rules and any closure signs around the damaged pier.

• Park hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; boat-ramp parking hours run around the clock
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida residents fishing from shore can use the no-cost resident shoreline license
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons and release rules; check FWC before keeping or handling one
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything