Chaires Creek Bridge, Bald Point State Park Fishing

Chaires Creek Bridge carries the park road over a tidal creek inside Bald Point State Park, and it is one of the few places on this stretch of the Forgotten Coast where you can fish a marsh creek from a solid deck. Expect a peaceful morning, a few good trout or reds on a falling tide and plenty of birds.

• A short steel truss bridge over a brackish tidal creek
• Seatrout, redfish, flounder and sheepshead named by the park
• Inside a state park with a clean, natural setting
• Light tackle and live shrimp do most of the work

The bridge is on the park road off Range Road at the Chaires Creek end of Bald Point State Park, on the Alligator Point peninsula in Franklin County. The Florida Park Service runs the park.

• Park hours: 8 a.m. until sunset
• Entry: there is a per-vehicle fee at the park, so bring cash or check before you go
• Parking: park in the pullouts and lots the park provides, never on the bridge deck
• Surface: the bridge is a paved road span, and you fish from its edge, so keep well back from passing vehicles

The creek is brackish, so what bites depends on the tide, the season and recent rain.

• Spring (Mar-May): spotted seatrout and redfish move onto the marsh edges as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): seatrout at dawn, with jacks, ladyfish and catfish on bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and flounder follow mullet and shrimp out of the marsh on falling water
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead around the bridge supports, with black drum and the occasional redfish

Light spinning gear with 8 to 15 lb line and a fluorocarbon leader is plenty for a creek this size.

• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a quarter-ounce jig with a soft plastic tail
• Redfish: a chunk of cut mullet or crab on the bottom, or a gold spoon worked along the edges
• Flounder: a jig bounced slowly along the bottom near the creek mouth
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or small pieces of shrimp dropped straight down by the supports
• Bring a long-handled net, because the deck is low and the drop is awkward for larger fish

Franklin County has two uneven highs and lows on most days, and the creek runs hard on the middle of each tide.

• Fish the falling tide, when the marsh drains and bait is swept past the bridge
• Slack water at the top of the tide is usually slow
• Early morning and the last two hours of daylight fish best in summer
• After heavy rain the creek turns tea-colored and fresher, which slows the trout bite
• A steady cool, clear day in winter is best for sheepshead

The bridge is part of a working park road, so traffic and bugs are the main worries.

• Keep your gear, bucket and children off the roadway and out of the lane
• Watch the mirrors of passing vehicles and leave a clear gap for park staff
• Mosquitoes and biting flies are heavy in the marsh on still days; bring repellent
• Leave the bridge at the first thunder, since summer afternoon storms build fast
• Access: the deck is level and paved, but there is no railing built for fishing and no seats

Bald Point State Park has the usual state park services, but the bridge itself has nothing.

• Restrooms and picnic areas are at the park's developed areas rather than at the bridge
• No bait shop at the bridge; buy bait in Alligator Point or Panacea before you arrive
• Trash cans are limited, so pack out your line and bait scraps
• There is no lighting, and the park closes at sunset
• Ask the ranger station about current conditions on the park roads

• Bring your own bait; the closest shops are a drive away
• Time your visit for a falling tide at sunrise for the best trout bite
• Arrive early on weekends, since park lots fill during nice weather
• Fish the shaded side of the bridge supports in summer, when trout and snapper hold in the shadow
• Combine it with the park's beach and the Tucker Lake paddling trail for a full day out
• Wear long sleeves in the evening; the marsh is buggy

Bald Point State Park is managed by the Florida Park Service, and fishing in the park must follow state rules.

• The park is open 8 a.m. until sunset, every day of the year
• Park staff can change closures or hours, so check the park before you go
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Redfish, flounder and seatrout have their own rules; check FWC before keeping anything
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything
• Do not dig bait inside the state park; bring or buy it