Herschel King Park Fishing

Herschel King Park is a calm, family-friendly place to fish the Intracoastal Waterway from a pier, with a boat launch a short walk up the shore for anyone who wants to get out on the water.

• A fishing pier on the Intracoastal Waterway
• Redfish, seatrout, black drum and flounder along the edges
• Winter sheepshead and summer mangrove snapper on the pilings
• Restrooms, a playground, a shaded trail and a rentable pavilion
• Open from dawn to 11 p.m.

The park is in Palm Coast on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway, at the end of Grady Prather Jr. Cove off Colbert Lane, between State Road 100 and Palm Coast Parkway.

• Parking: lots by the boat launch
• Entry: no entry fee is listed on the county's park page
• Hours: dawn to 11 p.m., every day; county code keeps county boat ramps open at all hours
• The pier: a walk through the park from the parking, ending on a short boardwalk out to the pier
• Surface: park paths, the boardwalk, then decking
• The boat launch is open; keep the ramp lanes and loading area clear

The Intracoastal here holds fish year round, with the pier pilings and the edges of the waterway doing most of the work.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and seatrout on the move, black drum, and the last of the sheepshead
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper on the pilings, flounder, and jacks and ladyfish chasing bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, flounder and jacks through the waterway
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings, seatrout in the deeper water

Light to medium spinning tackle with 10 to 20 lb line covers most of it.

• Redfish and black drum: shrimp, cut mullet or crab on a Carolina rig along the edge of the waterway
• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic jig worked slowly
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small, strong hook dropped beside the pilings
• Mangrove snapper: small live baits or cut shrimp on light fluorocarbon at dusk
• Flounder: a mud minnow or finger mullet dragged slowly along the bottom
• Bring a long-handled landing net; lifting a good fish to the deck by the line risks losing it

The Intracoastal at Palm Coast is a long way from the nearest inlets, so the tide here is small, often around a foot, and runs hours later than on the beach, but it still rises and falls twice a day.

• Moving water on either tide is best; slack water is slow
• Early morning and evening beat the midday heat in summer
• Clear water on calm days helps with seatrout and sheepshead
• A strong wind against the current makes the waterway choppy and cloudy
• Summer thunderstorms build fast in the afternoon, so watch the sky

A calm, easy place to fish, with a few things to watch.

• Boats use the launch just up the shore from the pier: keep clear of the ramp and do not cast across boat lanes
• Summer afternoon lightning; leave the pier when storms build
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums at dawn and dusk
• Carry water and sun protection in the warm months
• The pier is reached along park paths and a boardwalk rather than straight from the car, so pack light

Flagler County lists good facilities for a waterfront park, enough for a family outing as well as a fishing trip.

• Restrooms
• A fishing pier and a boat launch with a dock
• A picnic pavilion (available to rent) and a playground
• A shaded walking trail and wildlife viewing
• Pets are allowed
• No bait shop is listed at the park, so bring bait, ice and drinks with you

• Fish the outer end of the pier on a moving tide, where the water is deepest
• In winter, drop fiddler crabs straight down beside the pilings for sheepshead
• Summer evenings, up to the 11 p.m. closing, are the time for mangrove snapper
• Weekday mornings are the quietest at the launch
• Catch a few pinfish around the pilings early on; they make good bait for bigger fish
• Check the county's park page for notices before you go

Herschel King Park is run by Flagler County Parks and Recreation.

• Open from dawn to 11 p.m.; county park rules ban alcohol without a county permit and overnight parking, and keep the boat launch clear
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Obey any posted manatee and no-wake zones if you launch a boat or kayak
• Take old line home rather than leaving it on the pier
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything