City Island Park Fishing Docks, Daytona Beach

City Island Park Fishing Docks are the city's own fishing platforms on an island in the Halifax River, a short drive from downtown Daytona Beach. They are an easy, family-friendly place to fish the river's grass and channel edges.

• City-run fishing docks on the Halifax River
• Seatrout, redfish, black drum, sheepshead and flounder
• Restrooms, pavilions, picnic tables and parking in the park
• Posted daytime hours, longer in summer

City Island Park is at 113 Jackie Robinson Parkway, on the island north of the Silver Beach Bridge. The City of Daytona Beach runs it.

• Getting there: cross to the island on the parkway and follow signs to the park
• Parking: the park has parking, and OpenStreetMap maps city lots on the island with no fee; check the signs
• Hours: the city's page lists 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April through November and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from December through March
• The walk from the lots to the docks is short and paved

The island's river frontage mixes grass, oyster bars and channel drop-offs.

• Spring (Mar-May): spotted seatrout and flounder on the moving tide
• Summer (Jun-Aug): jacks and ladyfish chase bait; seatrout early in the morning
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and seatrout follow the mullet runs
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the dock pilings and shells

Light spinning tackle with 8 to 12 lb line is plenty.

• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a small soft plastic on a jig head
• Black drum and sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small hook near the pilings
• Redfish: cut mullet or a live finger mullet on a bottom rig
• Flounder: a minnow or a jig bounced slowly along the bottom
• Because the docks sit low, a long-handled net helps land bigger fish

The Halifax River follows two tides a day, and the island's channels pull a steady current.

• Fish the first and last two hours of a tide for the best bite
• Incoming water is usually clearer
• The park closes in the evening, so plan the last hours of light and an early start
• Strong east wind chops the river; mornings are usually calmer
• Rain clouds the water for a day or two

The docks are easy to reach, but they are low over the water.

• Keep children back from the edge and watch your footing on wet planks
• Keep lines clear of boats using the island's boat dock and the river channel
• Leave the docks at the first thunder in a summer storm
• Ballpark and event days bring traffic and crowds; arrive early
• Carry water and sun protection

City Island is a full city park.

• Restrooms
• Picnic tables and pavilions, onshore and offshore
• A volleyball court and a boat dock
• Parking lots on the island
• No bait shop confirmed on the island; bring bait

• Go on a weekday morning, before the ballpark traffic
• Check the hours posted at the park, since closing time changes with the season
• Bring a long-handled net, since the docks sit low
• Bring bait; none was confirmed in the park
• Cast to the edges of the grass and any shell or piling
• Pack out line and trash to keep the docks clear

The City of Daytona Beach manages City Island Park.

• Follow the park's posted hours and rules
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook, redfish and tarpon have special rules; check FWC before keeping one
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything