White City Park and Boat Ramp Fishing

White City Park and Boat Ramp is a county park on a tidal creek off the Intracoastal Waterway, with bank fishing, a ramp and restrooms. It is a quiet, sheltered place to fish when the bay is windy, though the water here is more variable than on the bay.

• Bank and dock fishing on Searcy Creek and the waterway
• Redfish, flounder, sheepshead, black drum and trout reported in the nearby canal system
• Restrooms, picnic tables and a playground
• Salinity shifts with rain and tide

The park is at 290 Pridgeon Road, White City, on the Gulf County side of the Intracoastal Waterway, and Gulf County runs it.

• Getting there: off State Road 71 north of Port St. Joe
• Parking: the county lists parking at the park; the fee is not stated, so check the signs
• Water access: the bank and docks around the ramp
• Hours: not published on the pages we read, so follow the posted signs
• The old free wall at the nearby White City dock is reported closed; stay on the park's own bank and docks

Fish here follow the tide and the freshwater flow.

• Spring (Mar-May): flounder and trout as the water warms, with redfish along the bank
• Summer (Jun-Aug): trout and jacks on moving water, catfish on the bottom
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and flounder, the best of the year
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around pilings, redfish in deeper holes
• After heavy rain the water freshens and fishing slows

Keep it simple and light.

• A 7 foot spinning rod with 10 to 15 lb line and a 20 lb leader
• Redfish and flounder: live shrimp, mud minnows or cut bait on the bottom
• Trout: a white grub or small soft plastic on a jig head
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small hook near pilings
• A long-handled net helps at the dock

Gulf County tides are mixed, with about half the days showing one high and one low, and this reach lags behind the bay, so check the nearest NOAA station and watch the current.

• Moving water, either direction, gives the best bite
• Fish the first hours of a falling tide at the dock edges
• Heavy rain freshens the creek and slows the fishing for days
• A calm, overcast morning is best in summer

The park is simple and family-friendly.

• Keep lines clear of boats using the ramp
• Leave the water edge at the first thunder
• Bring insect repellent in warm months
• Watch for slippery docks and catfish spines
• Access: level parking and paths to the docks; check what the county has open

The county lists several facilities.

• Boat ramp with parking
• Restrooms on site
• Picnic tables, grills, covered picnic areas and a playground
• Trails and a volleyball court
• No bait shop confirmed at the park; buy bait in Port St. Joe

• Fish the docks on a moving tide, not at slack water
• Bring live shrimp from town; there is no bait stand listed at the park
• Try the bank on either side of the ramp, away from boat traffic
• Check the weather and recent rain; fresh water shuts the bite down
• Pack bug spray, especially at dusk
• Pack out your trash and fish scraps

Gulf County manages the park, and its tourism office lists bank fishing here; the county posts no fishing limit that we found.

• Read the posted signs, as the water here is a brackish creek on the Intracoastal Waterway
• Hours and fees are not published on the pages we read
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; a freshwater license may apply in fresher water, so check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything