Faver-Dykes State Park Fishing

Faver-Dykes State Park is a quiet state park where Pellicer Creek, a Florida Designated Paddling Trail, winds through salt marsh on its way east to the Matanzas River.

• A fishing dock on the creek, a short walk from the picnic area
• A boat ramp for canoes, kayaks and small boats
• Redfish, seatrout, black drum and sheepshead in brackish water
• Camping, nature trails and plenty of wildlife
• A $5 per-vehicle entrance fee, paid at the honor box

The park is at 1000 Faver-Dykes Road, St. Augustine, at the southern edge of St. Johns County; Pellicer Creek forms its southern border and the county line.

• Entrance fees: $5 per vehicle for up to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, and $2 for pedestrians, cyclists and extra passengers
• Paying: use the honor box, with correct change
• Hours: 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year
• Getting to the water: follow the park road to the picnic area, then walk a short way to the fishing dock; the park lists the dock among its accessible amenities
• The boat ramp also gives access to Pellicer Creek, which averages 2 to 6 feet deep, according to the park

The park calls Pellicer Creek a mix of fresh and salt water with abundant fish of both kinds; from the dock, aim for the brackish-water regulars the park names.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and black drum, sheepshead finishing up, seatrout arriving as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): redfish at dawn, flounder, jacks and ladyfish after bait, catfish on cut bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the peak, when reds, trout and flounder feed hard on shrimp and mullet
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead, redfish on warm afternoons; trout sit in the deeper holes
• Freshwater fish such as bass and bream live farther up the creek, toward its headwaters

Light tackle and natural baits suit a small, shallow creek.

• A light spinning rod with 8 to 12 lb line is plenty
• Seatrout and reds: a live or fresh shrimp under a float, drifted along the marsh bank
• Black drum and catfish: shrimp or cut mullet on a small sliding-sinker rig
• Sheepshead: a fiddler crab or shrimp on a small, strong hook beside the dock pilings
• In water 2 to 6 feet deep, a 1/4 to 1/2 oz sinker is usually enough
• From a canoe or kayak, you can fish more of the marsh banks downstream toward the Pellicer flats

Pellicer Creek is tidal, rising and falling twice a day, though here upstream the tide arrives later and smaller than at Matanzas Inlet.

• Moving water, in either direction, is the time to fish
• The ebb flushes shrimp and minnows off the marsh into the creek
• After heavy rain the creek runs fresher and darker, and saltwater fish may drop back downstream
• Calm mornings after the 8 a.m. opening are pleasant and often productive
• Summer afternoon storms build quickly over the marsh

A peaceful, low-risk spot with wildlife all around.

• The park lists deer, turkeys, hawks, bobcats and river otters; alligators may also use brackish creeks, so stay back from the edge
• Ticks and biting insects are common in the warm months: use repellent
• The dock is not large, so share the space with other anglers
• Leave the water when lightning approaches
• Paddlers should wear a life jacket and plan around the tide
• The park lists the fishing dock, restrooms, parking, pavilions and a canoe and kayak launch as accessible

Florida State Parks lists these amenities at Faver-Dykes.

• A fishing dock near the picnic area
• Two covered pavilions, picnic tables, grills, restrooms and a children's play area in the picnic area
• A boat ramp for small boats and an accessible canoe and kayak launch; canoes can be reserved by calling the park
• A campground with RV sites and primitive group camping
• Nature trails and an interpretive exhibit
• No bait shop is listed, so bring bait and ice

• Bring correct change for the honor box
• Arrive at the 8 a.m. opening for the calmest, coolest fishing
• A kayak opens up miles of marsh along the paddling trail toward the Pellicer flats and the Matanzas River
• Fall is the best time for redfish and trout in the creek
• Keep an eye out for otters and bobcats while you fish
• Princess Place Preserve, a Flagler County preserve, lies across Pellicer Creek on the south bank

Faver-Dykes is a Florida state park, run by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida State Parks.

• Open 8 a.m. to sundown; pay the entrance fee at the honor box and follow park rules
• Alcohol is not allowed except for campers at their campsites
• Pellicer Creek is brackish, and whether you need a saltwater or freshwater license depends on the fish you target; the FWC can tell you which
• Take all trash and old line home
• Before keeping fish, check the FWC's current size, bag and season limits at myfwc.com