Robert J. Strickland Beach Fishing

Robert J. Strickland Beach, or Hudson Beach, is a small waterfront park where you can fish from a seawall, with a sandy beach, restaurants and the county boat ramp next door. It is a convenient, sociable spot rather than a wilderness venue.

• Seawall and boardwalk fishing over the Gulf flats
• Trout, redfish, sheepshead and summer mackerel
• Restrooms, shelters and food nearby
• The county lists fishing access among the park's features

The park is at 6345 Clark Street in Hudson, Pasco County, west of US 19.

• Hours: sunrise to sunset, seven days a week
• Parking: on-site parking; the county boat ramp beside the park (14104 Armand Way) charges for boat parking
• The walk: flat and short to the seawall and boardwalk
• The park also has a dock, canoe and kayak access and an observation tower
• The point at the south end, where the pin is, looks over the Gulf and the mouth of the canal to the boat ramp

The Hudson flats are shallow grass with rocky edges and canals.

• Spring (Mar–May): Spanish mackerel arrive; sheepshead along the seawall; trout on the flats
• Summer (Jun–Aug): ladyfish, jacks and small snapper; snook around the rocks early in the morning
• Fall (Sep–Nov): trout and redfish at their best; mackerel on their way south
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and trout; fish the deeper canal mouths on cold days

Light to medium spinning tackle.

• 7-foot medium rod, 15 lb braid, 25 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Popping cork and shrimp for trout
• Carolina rig with cut mullet for redfish
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook for sheepshead along the wall
• Silver spoons for mackerel
• A long-handled net to land fish over the seawall

Tides are mixed, with two uneven highs and lows on most days and a typical range of about 3 feet, over shallow flats.

• Rising tide is best; low water leaves the flats in front of the seawall very skinny
• Early mornings and evenings in summer, before swimmers and boats
• West winds churn up the water; calm mornings are clearest
• Winter north winds pull water out
• Moving water around the canal mouths and rocks is when redfish and snook feed hardest

A developed park with a few specific hazards.

• Seawall edges can be slippery and have no railing in places; watch children
• Busy boat traffic to the ramp: never cast across the canal
• Keep clear of the designated swim area
• Summer lightning storms
• Accessibility: the waterfront walkway and boardwalk are close to parking and fairly level

Hudson Beach has more on hand than most spots on this coast.

• Public restrooms
• Picnic shelters, benches and swings, a playground, a boardwalk and an observation tower
• Restaurants next to the park
• A dock and canoe and kayak access, with the county boat ramp beside the park
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you

Some local know-how.

• Fish the seawall soon after sunrise, before the park gets busy
• Look along the rocks and canal mouths for snook and redfish on the moving tide
• Weekend afternoons are busy with swimmers and boats; weekday mornings are best
• Check the state's beach water-quality advisories for Hudson Beach before summer trips
• Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park and Anclote Gulf Park are short drives south if you want a change

Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park is a Pasco County park, and the county lists fishing access among its features.

• Open sunrise to sunset
• Keep clear of the designated swim area and the boat traffic to the ramp
• Dogs are not allowed on the beach, piers or swim areas (county park rules)
• Snook have their own seasons and rules; check FWC
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt.
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.