Lafayette Park, Apalachicola Fishing

Lafayette Park pairs a town park first dedicated in 1832 with a long, newly restored pier over Apalachicola Bay.

• A fishing pier that runs several hundred feet across the marsh and into the bay, ending at a pavilion
• Restored with FEMA funding after Hurricane Michael; the park was rededicated in March 2026
• Sheepshead, black drum, redfish and speckled trout around the pilings
• Brick walkways, shady oaks and a gazebo with wide views over the bay

The park sits on the Apalachicola Bay shore in the town's historic district, a few blocks southwest of downtown.

• Getting there: follow US 98 into Apalachicola and head for the bay; the city lists the park on Avenue B and the tourism office on Bay Avenue
• Entry: a city park with no entry fee listed
• Parking: the city has added dedicated parking at the park, marked out with granite coping; otherwise use legal parking on the nearby streets and read the signs
• The walk: brick walkways through the park lead to the pier, then a long, level deck that crosses the marsh before it reaches open water
• No opening hours are published; check the posted park rules

Franklin County's tourism office says redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and black drum bite in its bays year-round, with Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish from March to November.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead on the pilings, black drum, trout and reds as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel and ladyfish on bait schools, croaker and white trout on the bottom, catfish after dark
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best months for redfish and flounder, with trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings; trout on mild afternoons

A medium spinning rod with 15 to 20 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader covers almost everything here.

• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader and a 1/0 hook, dropped tight to the pilings
• Redfish and trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead
• Flounder: a mud minnow or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, dragged slowly over the bottom
• Croaker and white trout: small pieces of shrimp on a two-hook bottom rig
• Spanish mackerel: small spoons retrieved fast when bait shows
• Bring a drop net or long-handled net; the deck sits well above the water

Apalachicola Bay's tides are small, with two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, so plan around the hours when the water is moving.

• The first half of a rising or falling tide fishes best around the pilings
• The Apalachicola River feeds the bay: after heavy rain upriver the water near town turns fresher and muddier, and the bite slows
• Dawn and dusk are best in summer heat
• Strong wind makes the open bay choppy and cloudy; calm days fish better
• Winter cold fronts clear the water and push fish deeper

The park is in town and easy to reach, but the pier is exposed to weather.

• Leave the pier at the first thunder; summer storms build fast over the bay
• The deck is long, with little shade before the end pavilion, so carry water and sun protection
• Keep casts and hooks clear of walkers and sightseers on the pier
• Shuffle your feet if you wade off the shoreline; stingrays are common in the bay
• The park's brick paths are level; wheelchair users should check the pier approach on arrival

The city and the tourism office list a gazebo, picnic tables, a children's playground and interpretive signs, and period pathway lights were installed in 2022.

• A pavilion at the end of the pier
• Picnic tables and a playground in the park
• Restrooms are not listed for the park, so plan ahead
• No bait shop at the park; buy bait and ice in Apalachicola before you go
• Downtown restaurants are a few blocks away

• Fiddler crabs are the classic sheepshead bait around bay pilings in late winter and spring
• A cart saves several trips on the long walk out to the end of the deck
• Check the day's tide times before you go; the pilings fish best while the water is moving
• Battery Park's fishing pier on the river front is a short drive away for a change of scene
• Check the FWC's red tide and fish kill reports if the bay looks discolored
• Take all line and bait home; the park is part of the historic district

Lafayette Park is a City of Apalachicola park; follow the posted park rules.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Take discarded line, hooks and bait home; they kill birds and sea turtles
• If you hook a sea turtle, do not cut the line; bring it in gently and report it to the FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything