Moody Boat Launch and Betty Steflik Preserve Fishing

Moody Boat Launch and Betty Steflik Preserve give Flagler Beach a quiet Intracoastal fishing pier on the edge of a salt marsh preserve.

• A county fishing pier on the waterway
• Redfish, seatrout, black drum and sheepshead
• Marsh boardwalk, trails and birdlife
• Parking, restrooms and picnic areas at both sites
• A sheltered choice when the ocean is too rough to fish

The launch is at 825 Moody Lane and the preserve at 815 Moody Lane in Flagler Beach, on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway south of State Road 100.

• Parking: at the boat launch and at the preserve
• Entry: Flagler County lists no fee
• Hours: both are open from dawn until 11 p.m., Monday through Sunday
• The pier: at the waterway, reached from the launch and preserve
• Surface: level boardwalks and decking; the preserve's trails are unpaved

The Intracoastal here fishes best in spring and fall.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and seatrout along the marsh, black drum, sheepshead finishing up
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and jacks, flounder, mangrove snapper around structure
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, seatrout and flounder
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum near pilings, seatrout in the deeper channel
• Year-round: pinfish and small snapper around the pier

Light spinning tackle is ideal.

• Seatrout and redfish: a popping cork with live shrimp, or a soft plastic along the marsh edge
• Black drum: shrimp or crab on the bottom near the pier
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs beside pilings in winter
• Flounder: mud minnows on a Carolina rig
• Snook: live mullet at dawn and dusk in summer

The Intracoastal here gets two small tides a day, far from the nearest inlets, and wind matters too.

• Moving water is best, especially the outgoing as it drains the marsh
• High tide pushes redfish into the grass; low tide pulls them to the edges
• Calm, clear mornings are best for sight-fishing
• Strong wind makes the waterway choppy

A calm, safe spot.

• Keep clear of boats launching and of the boat dock
• Summer lightning; leave early
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums at dusk; bring repellent
• Boat wakes from the waterway can splash the pier
• Level decking and boardwalks suit most anglers
• Boardwalks can be slick after rain
• Keep children back from the pier edge

Facilities are simple.

• Restrooms at both the launch and the preserve
• A picnic area at the launch and a rentable picnic pavilion at the preserve
• A public boat launch, also used for canoes and kayaks
• A raised wooden boardwalk and unpaved nature trails through the marsh, maritime hammock and coastal scrub
• No bait shop; buy bait in Flagler Beach or Palm Coast
• Pets are allowed at both sites

• Fish the outgoing tide along the marsh edge for redfish
• A popping cork and live shrimp is the local standard
• Walk the boardwalk to scout bait and birds before you set up
• Evening sessions are pleasant with the late closing time
• Combine it with the surf at Flagler Beach, a few minutes east
• Bring bug spray for dusk sessions

The Moody Boat Launch and the Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve are Flagler County parks.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Keeping a snook requires a snook permit as well as the license; check FWC seasons
• Stay on the boardwalk and trails in the preserve
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything