Colin's Park, Daytona Beach Fishing

Colin's Park, Daytona Beach is a two-and-a-half-acre city park on the Halifax River with a fishing dock, a playground and a fenced dog park, which makes it an easy family stop on the beachside.

• Black drum and sheepshead around the dock in the cooler months
• Redfish and seatrout along the edges year-round
• Mangrove snapper, jacks and ladyfish in summer
• Restrooms, parking and picnic tables a few steps from the dock

The park is at 100 University Boulevard, off Halifax Avenue on the beachside of Daytona Beach, facing the Halifax River.

• Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. April through November, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. December through March
• Parking: on site at the park
• The dock is reached on foot from the park
• No entry fee is listed by the city
• The park opened in 1996 and covers two and a half acres

The dock sees the Halifax River's usual mix through the year.

• Spring (Mar-May): black drum and sheepshead finishing up, redfish and trout becoming more active
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper around the structure, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait, trout early
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, flounder and jacks close in
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the dock pilings

Light spinning tackle is all you need here.

• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small, strong hook beside the pilings
• Black drum and redfish: shrimp or crab on a small sliding sinker rig off the end of the dock
• Seatrout: popping cork with live shrimp, or a soft plastic, early in the day
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp and light fluorocarbon near the structure
• Flounder: mud minnows dragged slowly along the bottom in the fall
• Bring a landing net; lifting fish up to the dock breaks line

The Halifax River here has small, twice-daily tides, and wind often moves the water as much as the tide does.

• Fish the moving water around the tide changes
• Calm, clear mornings are best for trout and redfish
• Winter cold fronts push drum and sheepshead onto the dock pilings
• Strong north-east wind and heavy rain color the water
• In summer, go early; midday heat slows the bite and the park closes at 7 p.m.

This is a calm, sheltered river dock in a small city park.

• Summer afternoon lightning; leave the dock when storms build
• Heat and sun on the dock; bring water and a hat
• Boat traffic on the river; keep casts clear of passing boats
• Barnacled pilings cut line; retie often
• The park closes in the early evening, so plan to finish in daylight
• Watch for manatees and dolphins and never cast at them

The city lists simple, useful facilities for a small riverfront park, all within a short walk of the dock.

• Parking and restrooms
• Water fountains, benches and picnic tables
• An outdoor grill for a riverside lunch
• New playground equipment
• A fenced dog park
• The fishing dock over the river
• No bait shop, food or lighting is listed at the park, so bring bait, drinks and anything else you need

• The gates open at 8 a.m., after first light, so start as they open in summer while the water is still cool for trout
• Drop fiddler crabs tight to the pilings for winter sheepshead
• A small cooler of live shrimp outfishes frozen bait for snapper
• Pair a session with the playground or the dog park for the rest of the family
• Check the seasonal closing time before an afternoon session

Colin's Park belongs to the City of Daytona Beach Parks and Recreation.

• Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. April through November and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. December through March
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Follow the park's posted rules, including those for the fenced dog park
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything