Ames Park Fishing Pier, Ormond Beach

Ames Park Fishing Pier is a 75-foot city pier on a quiet stretch of the Halifax River in Ormond Beach. It is a shady, small-town spot for trout, black drum and flounder, with a park for the family beside it.

• 75-foot pier on the Halifax River
• Spotted seatrout, black drum, flounder and sheepshead
• Pavilion, restrooms, gazebo and playground
• Open sunrise to sunset

Ames Park is a riverfront park on the Halifax River in Ormond Beach, run by the City of Ormond Beach, with a parking lot beside it.

• The pier juts out from the park's river edge
• Parking: parking lots are mapped beside the park; I found no published fee, so read the signs
• The walk from the lot to the pier is short and level
• Hours: the park is open from sunrise to sunset

The Halifax River here is brackish, with grass, shell and pilings along the shore.

• Spring (Mar-May): spotted seatrout and flounder on the moving tide
• Summer (Jun-Aug): jacks, ladyfish and catfish, with seatrout in the early morning
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and seatrout follow mullet along the shoreline, with flounder moving through
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the pilings, with seatrout on mild days

Light spinning tackle with 8 to 12 lb line works well from the short pier.

• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 oz jig head
• Black drum and sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small hook right against the pilings
• Flounder: a live minnow or a slowly bounced jig along the bottom
• Redfish: a cut mullet chunk on a bottom rig
• Beginners: a split shot and a piece of shrimp catches pinfish and catfish

The river rises and falls with two tides a day, but the current at the pier is gentle.

• Fish the first and last two hours of a tide for the best bite
• Incoming water usually clears the river
• The park closes at sunset, so plan the last light and an early start
• A strong east wind pushes chop and cloudy water up the river
• Mild, still winter days are best for sheepshead and black drum

A short, level pier in a small park, easy for families.

• Planks get slick after rain or dew
• Keep children back from the edge of the pier
• Keep lines clear of paddlers using the hand-launch area and of passing boats
• Leave the pier at the first thunder in a summer storm
• Catfish spines and stingray barbs can hurt; handle them with care

The park has the basics for a family outing.

• A 75-foot fishing pier
• Restrooms and a pavilion
• Picnic tables, a gazebo and a playground
• A hand-launch area for kayaks and canoes
• Granada Pier Bait & Tackle in Ormond Beach sells live and frozen shrimp; bring bait, since none is confirmed at the park

• Try early mornings, when the river is calm and the pier is quiet
• Fiddler crabs are the best winter bait for sheepshead and black drum
• Cast along the pier's shadow and any shell or grass edge
• Keep a small net handy, since the deck sits low
• Pick up bait on the way; the park has none
• The city may post event closures; check before you drive

The City of Ormond Beach manages Ames Park.

• The park is open sunrise to sunset
• Follow the posted park rules
• 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