Long Creek Nature Preserve, Palm Coast Fishing

Long Creek Nature Preserve is a quiet city preserve on a tidal creek in Palm Coast, with a fishing pier and a floating dock among its boardwalks and trails. It is a light-tackle, sheltered-water spot, a good fit for beginners and families.

• City lists fishing among its activities, with a pier and floating dock
• Redfish, seatrout, sheepshead and baitfish on a moving tide
• Boardwalks, shell trails and a nearby paddle launch
• The east-side dock and launch were closed for damage in 2025

The preserve is at 1050 Palm Harbor Parkway, Palm Coast, run by the City of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation.

• Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, per the city
• Parking: the city lists parking; no fee is given
• Trails are hard-packed shell with raised boardwalks
• The east-side kayak launch and dock were closed from March 24, 2025, for damage, with no repair date; the city pointed paddlers to other launches
• Ask the city (386-986-2323) which structure is open to anglers

This is brackish water, so the catch changes with salinity and season.

• Spring (Mar-May): seatrout and redfish as the water warms, with mullet in the creek
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper, jacks and ladyfish, with snook a possibility on warm nights
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish, seatrout and flounder as mullet and shrimp leave the creek
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum near the pilings and dock edges

Light tackle in sheltered water.

• Redfish and seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a small soft plastic on a jig head
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp dropped straight down beside the pilings
• Snapper and flounder: small shrimp or a mud minnow near the dock edges
• Tackle: a light spinning rod with 8 to 10 lb line and a 15 to 20 lb leader
• Keep the line clear of kayakers and the dock

Long Creek rises and falls with the Atlantic tides, mixed with some fresher water upstream.

• Moving water, either direction, fishes better than slack tide
• The falling tide flushes bait from the creek and pulls fish to the pier
• Dawn and dusk are best in summer
• Heavy rain freshens the creek and slows the bite for a day or two
• Use the nearest NOAA station for timing

A boardwalk and pier in a nature preserve, with the usual cautions.

• Watch for slippery boards after rain or dew
• Mosquitoes are thick at dusk; bring repellent
• Leave the pier at the first thunder
• Handle catfish and stingrays with care
• Access is by a short, level shell and boardwalk path

What the city page and our research show.

• Fishing pier and floating dock, plus boardwalk trails and seating areas
• Parking at the preserve
• Non-motorized boat access
• Restrooms and accessible parking, per the city page
• No bait shop at the preserve; buy bait before you arrive

• Come early on a weekday to have the pier to yourself
• Bring fiddler crabs or live shrimp rather than frozen bait
• Check the city page for the current status of the east-side dock before driving
• Bring bug spray from April to October
• Combine the visit with a walk on the boardwalk trails
• The preserve closes at 7 p.m., so plan evening sessions in summer carefully

Long Creek Nature Preserve is managed by the City of Palm Coast.

• The city lists fishing among its activities, and the preserve has a fishing pier
• Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Read the signs for any rules on the pier and dock
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook have their own rules; check FWC before keeping one
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything