Ochlockonee Bay Boat Ramp Fishing

Ochlockonee Bay Boat Ramp is a small county ramp and fishing dock where the Ochlockonee River estuary meets US 98, handy for a quick session or a kayak launch.

• A county fishing dock beside the US 98 bridge
• Speckled trout, redfish, flounder and sheepshead in a rich river-mouth bay
• A kayak and small-boat ramp onto shallow, fishy water
• Picnic tables; the FWC lists the ramp as open 24 hours with no fee

The ramp is at the southwest end of the US 98 bridge over Ochlockonee Bay, on the Franklin County shore toward Alligator Point.

• Getting there: follow US 98 east from Carrabelle, or west across the bridge from Panacea; the ramp is at the south end of the bridge
• Parking: part paved and part unpaved, shared with trailers and kayak launchers
• Entry: free, and the FWC lists the ramp as open 24 hours
• The walk: a few steps from the car to the dock
• Shallow water makes the ramp best for kayaks and small boats

Ochlockonee Bay mixes river water and Gulf water over oyster bars and grass, and it holds inshore fish all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): trout and redfish on the move, sheepshead on the bridge and dock posts
• Summer (Jun-Aug): trout at dawn, sharks and tarpon in the bay, flounder on the bottom
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best months for redfish and flounder as bait leaves the bay
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum; trout in the deeper river bends

Light spinning tackle with 10 to 15 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader suits the dock.

• Trout and redfish: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 oz jighead
• Sheepshead and black drum: shrimp or fiddler crabs on the bottom near the posts
• Flounder: a mud minnow dragged slowly along the bottom on a Carolina rig
• Tarpon are mostly a boat fishery here; from the dock, stick to lighter inshore gear
• A landing net helps; the dock sits above the water

Tides here bring two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, and the river mouth drains hard on a falling tide.

• Fish moving water; the start of the outgoing tide pulls bait off the flats
• Low tide exposes oyster bars and mud; the ramp gets very shallow
• After heavy rain the river runs dark and fresh, and fish move toward the bay mouth
• Dawn and dusk are best in summer
• Wind from the south pushes water in; a hard north wind can drain the bay

The ramp is simple and exposed, so come prepared.

• Keep clear of boats and trailers using the ramp
• Oyster bars are sharp; wear shoes if you wade
• Soft mud can trap a wading angler at low tide
• Leave the water at the first thunder
• The dock is a short, level walk from parking, but there is little shade

Franklin County lists a fishing dock, picnic tables and a portable toilet at the ramp, but the FWC's ramp inventory lists no toilet, so do not count on one.

• A fishing dock and boat ramp
• A few picnic tables
• No restroom building
• No bait shop at the ramp; buy bait before you arrive
• Bring water, shade and bug spray

• A kayak turns this into a great spot: the oyster bars and creek mouths are a short paddle away
• Fish the first two hours of the falling tide, when bait flushes off the flats
• Bring bug spray for dawn and dusk in the warm months
• Bald Point State Park is a short drive away for more shoreline and beaches
• Check the tide before launching; the ramp is shallow at low water

Franklin County manages the Ochlockonee Bay Boat Ramp; follow posted rules.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Tarpon have special FWC release rules; keep big fish in the water and check FWC before you go
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Keep the ramp and dock clear for launching boats
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything