MalaCompra Park Fishing

MalaCompra Park gives shore anglers something most of Flagler County's sand beaches do not: coquina rock along the shore, which holds sheepshead, drum and redfish close in. It is a county beach park in the Hammock with restrooms, a shower and plenty of parking.

• Coquina rock formations on the beach, as the county describes
• Sheepshead, black drum and redfish near the rock
• Whiting, pompano and bluefish in the sandy troughs
• Open from dawn to 11 p.m.
• Bings Landing, a county park on the Matanzas River, is a short drive away on the other side of A1A

The park is on Malacompra Road on the ocean side of A1A in the Hammock area of Palm Coast, north of Flagler Beach and south of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.

• Parking: the county says there is plenty of it
• Entry: no entry fee is listed on the county's park page
• Hours: dawn to 11 p.m., every day
• The walk: a short dune walkover from the parking to the beach
• Surface: sand, with coquina rock at the shoreline that is rough, uneven and slippery when wet
• The county lists bicycling and nature trails among the park's features, so a bike with light tackle works

Seasons follow the rest of the northeast Florida surf, but the rock adds structure that fish use all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead and black drum around the rock, pompano and whiting in the troughs, bluefish passing
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and flounder, jacks chasing bait, sharks on the evening tide
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, bluefish and jacks tight to the beach, and pompano return
• Winter (Dec-Feb): the best months for sheepshead on the rock, with black drum and redfish on calm days

Bring two setups: one for the rock and one for the open sand.

• Sheepshead and black drum: a short, strong leader with a small 1/0 or 2/0 hook and a fiddler crab, sand flea or piece of shrimp, fished tight to the rock edges with just enough lead to hold
• Redfish: cut mullet or crab on a fish-finder rig beside the rock
• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook pompano rig with sand fleas, shrimp or Fishbites on the sand
• Bluefish and jacks: spoons or plugs when bait schools show in fall
• Expect to lose rigs on the rock: carry spares and use abrasion-resistant leader

The Atlantic here has two high and two low tides a day, with a range of several feet.

• The rock fishes best from the middle of the incoming to high tide, when water covers it and fish move in to feed
• Low tide is the time to look at the rock and learn where the gaps and ledges are
• Calm to moderate surf is best; big northeast swells break over the rock and make it dangerous
• Clear water after a spell of light west winds is good for sheepshead
• In summer, fish early in the morning or in the evening

The coquina rock is the main hazard here.

• Wet rock is sharp and slippery: wear shoes with grip and never stand on rock in heavy surf
• The county says the beach is not suitable for swimming
• Rip currents form around the rock and in the cuts through the sandbar
• Summer afternoon storms bring lightning; leave the beach early
• Stingrays lie on the sand: shuffle your feet if you wade
• Access is a walkover and soft sand, then uneven rock, so it is hard going with a lot of gear

Flagler County lists basic facilities.

• Restrooms with an outdoor shower
• Plenty of parking
• Bicycling and hiking or nature trails among the listed features
• The county lists the park as pet friendly
• No bait shop or food is listed at the park, so bring bait, water and drinks
• The county also recommends it for dolphin watching and birding, so it is a pleasant spot for a mixed group

• Walk the beach at low tide to find the rock ledges before you fish them
• Buy fiddler crabs before you come for winter sheepshead
• Fish tight to the rock: sheepshead and drum rarely stray far from it
• Use the sandy stretches either side for whiting and pompano when the rock is quiet
• Leave when the surf builds; waves over the rock are dangerous
• Pair it with the Matanzas River at Bings Landing, a short drive away on the far side of A1A

MalaCompra 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
• County code makes it unlawful to take or damage the coquina rock on the beach, so leave it where it lies
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything