Vaill Point Park Fishing

Vaill Point Park pairs a fishing pier on a quiet tidal creek with trails, a playscape and restrooms, so it suits a family afternoon as well as a dedicated session on the tide.

• A county fishing pier and dock on Moultrie Creek
• Redfish, seatrout, flounder and black drum along the marsh
• Nature trails, with a county trail map
• A picnic pavilion you can reserve
• Open dawn to dusk

The park is on Vaill Point Road in the St. Augustine Shores area, south of downtown St. Augustine, on the bank of Moultrie Creek.

• Fees: the county lists none
• Hours: dawn to dusk
• The pier and dock stand at the park's northern tip, on Moultrie Creek, a walk of a few hundred yards along the park's nature trails from the entrance and picnic area
• Trails: the county publishes a trail map for the park, about nine-tenths of a mile of footpaths in all
• Paddlers: the county also publishes paddling maps for Moultrie Creek and for the route from Moultrie to Moses Creek

Moultrie Creek is a salt-marsh creek, so its fish are the backwater regulars.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and seatrout moving back onto the marsh edges as the water warms, black drum
• Summer (Jun-Aug): flounder, mangrove snapper around pilings, jacks and ladyfish on the bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the richest season, with redfish, trout and flounder feeding hard on shrimp and finger mullet
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum near structure, and trout in the deeper bends on mild days

Creek fishing rewards a light, quiet approach.

• Tackle: a 7 foot medium-light spinning rod with 10 lb braid and a 15 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Trout and reds: a shrimp under a clicking float, drifted along the grass line
• Flounder: a 1/4 oz jig head with a mud minnow or a soft shad, bumped along the bottom
• Drum and sheepshead: cut crab or shrimp on a small bottom rig near pilings
• Use as little lead as the current allows so the bait moves naturally

Moultrie Creek rises and falls twice a day with the Matanzas River, and the marsh around it floods and drains with every tide.

• The ebb pulls shrimp and minnows out of the marsh and into the creek, so fish the falling water
• At the top of the tide, fish spread into the flooded grass and are harder to reach from the pier
• Low water concentrates them in the creek channel
• Calm, overcast mornings suit a popping cork
• Heavy rain freshens and muddies the creek for a day or two

A calm and sheltered spot with a few natural nuisances.

• Mosquitoes and biting midges come off the marsh at dawn and dusk; wear repellent
• Shell and soft mud line the creek edges: wear shoes if you step down to the water
• Keep small children back from the pier edge and the dock
• Summer lightning: leave early when storms build
• The pier is reached on the nature trails, so plan on a walk with your gear rather than a step from the car

St. Johns County lists a good set of facilities for a creekside park, including restrooms.

• A fishing pier and a dock on Moultrie Creek
• Restrooms
• A picnic pavilion, which can be reserved
• A playscape for children
• Nature trails, with a county trail map
• No bait shop or food is listed, so bring bait, ice and drinks with you

• Fish the second half of the ebb, when bait pours out of the marsh
• Cast along the grass edge rather than into the middle of the creek
• In fall, look for shrimp flicking on the surface; trout and reds will be close by
• Winter sheepshead hang around dock pilings
• Pack light: the pier is a walk from the car along the trails
• Insect repellent is essential in the warm months

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation runs Vaill Point Park.

• Park hours are dawn to dusk, and posted park rules apply
• A saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies to you
• Paddlers should follow any posted no-wake and manatee signs on the creek
• Size, bag and season limits are set by the FWC: look them up at myfwc.com before keeping fish