Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park Oceanside, Ormond Beach Fishing

Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park Oceanside is the beach end of a 37-acre county park, with parking and restrooms facing open Atlantic surf. If the river dock across the road is crowded, the ocean side offers a different mix of fish.

• Open surf for whiting, pompano and bluefish
• A county beach lot across the street from the sand
• Restrooms on site
• Pairs with the park's Halifax River fishing dock

The park is at 1800 N. Ocean Shore Boulevard in Ormond Beach. Its oceanside lot is on the east side of the road.

• The county says beachgoers may park across the street from the ocean on the park's east side
• Parking at the east lot costs a daily fee for non-residents; registered Volusia County residents park free, and an annual off-beach pass is sold
• The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset
• Walk from the lot to the sand; carry gear across soft sand

The surf is the draw here.

• Spring (Mar-May): whiting, pompano and early bluefish
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, small sharks such as bonnetheads, and mackerel when bait is close
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mullet and bait schools bring bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano and whiting on calm days, with an occasional black drum

Surf rigs are simple and cheap.

• Bottom rig with two small hooks and a pyramid sinker of 2 to 5 oz
• Bait: shrimp, sand fleas from a tackle shop or cut mullet
• Pompano jigs or small spoons hopped along the bottom
• Bluefish and mackerel: casting spoon or cut bait on a wire leader
• Use 15 to 20 lb line and a sand spike for the rod

Expect two tides a day; check the nearest NOAA tide station.

• A rising tide, and an hour either side of high, usually fishes best
• Cast across the dark gully behind a sandbar
• Clean green water after a light east wind is ideal
• Heavy surf and brown water slow the bite
• Early mornings are cooler and have fewer people in the water

This is an ocean beach with real hazards.

• Rip currents: keep wading shallow and follow posted warnings
• Lightning storms build fast on summer afternoons
• Keep your cast well away from swimmers and surfers
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays
• Access: a parking lot and a short walk, with soft sand beyond

The park has more than most beach accesses.

• Restrooms are listed among the park's amenities
• Parking in the east lot across the road
• Also in the park: tennis courts, a dog park, picnic areas, a playground and nature trails
• Bait is not confirmed on site; buy it ahead

• Walk the whole beach before you set up; a trough and a cut often sit a short walk from the lot
• Fresh shrimp or sand fleas beat frozen bait for pompano
• Check that your parking is registered or paid before you cast
• Use the park's river dock for a different fishing mood when the surf is blown out
• Hold your rod low at crowded times and ask swimmers to stay clear
• Take all line and trash with you

Volusia County manages the park and its beach lot.

• The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset; the county lists a fishing dock on the river side, not the beach
• Chumming is not allowed on Volusia County beaches
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything