Ochlockonee River State Park Fishing

Ochlockonee River State Park protects longleaf pine forest along a wild, tidal stretch of the Ochlockonee River, and its picnic point and fishing dock give shore anglers easy access to brackish water.

• The park names redfish and speckled trout as common in its brackish and salt water
• Freshwater bass, bream and catfish share the river, so the catch is always a mix
• Paved parking and paths, restrooms, pavilions and a fish-cleaning station
• A lovely, quiet river, best for anglers who enjoy the setting as much as the fish

The park is on State Park Road near Sopchoppy in Wakulla County, upriver from Ochlockonee Bay.

• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year
• Entry: $4 per vehicle; launching a boat costs $4
• Where to fish: the Ochlockonee River shoreline is reached from the main picnic area, and a floating dock on the Dead River can be used for fishing
• The walk: paved parking and a paved path lead to the docks and the picnic area
• An accessible fishing and observation dock is listed among the park's facilities
• The park has a 30-site campground for anglers who want to stay on the river

The river is brackish at the park, so what bites depends on how salty the water is.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and trout move with the tide; freshwater bass and bream are active in the fresher water after spring rain
• Summer (Jun-Aug): catfish and bream are the steadiest bites; redfish on a moving tide early in the day; jacks can follow bait upriver
• Fall (Sep-Nov): usually the saltiest water and the best chance of redfish, trout and flounder
• Winter (Dec-Feb): speckled trout move up tidal rivers to escape the cold bay; sheepshead and black drum around hard cover

One light spinning rod covers both the fresh and the salt fish here.

• A 7-foot medium-light rod with 10 to 15 lb braid and a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Live shrimp under a popping cork, drifted along the edge of the current, for trout and redfish
• Shrimp or cut mullet on a light Carolina rig on the bottom for redfish, flounder and catfish
• A soft-plastic paddle tail on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead, worked slowly in winter for trout
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp beside pilings and snags for sheepshead
• Bring a landing net for the dock

Tides reach the park from Ochlockonee Bay: usually two highs and two lows a day of unequal size, some days only one, and river flow can matter more than the tide.

• Moving water is best: fish the last of the flood and the first of the ebb
• After heavy rain upriver the water turns fresh and dark, and salt fish drop back toward the bay
• Long dry spells let salty water push upriver and bring redfish and trout with it
• Cold fronts in winter send trout up into the rivers
• The park opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset unless you are camping

This is one of the most accessible fishing spots on the Big Bend, with a few river hazards to keep in mind.

• Paved parking and paths lead to the docks, and the park lists an accessible fishing and observation dock
• Boats and skiers use the river, especially in summer; keep lines clear of passing boats
• Alligators live in the rivers; never feed them and keep children and pets back from the edge
• Summer afternoon thunderstorms build quickly; get off the dock at the first thunder
• Keep your lines well away from the swimming area on the Dead River

The park is well equipped for a day or a weekend.

• Restrooms near the pavilions and at the boat ramp, and outdoor showers
• A fish-cleaning station at the boat ramp parking area
• Four picnic pavilions with grills, a playground and a swimming area on the Dead River
• An accessible boat ramp, dock and kayak launch
• A 30-site campground and bicycles for rent at the ranger station
• No bait or tackle sales were listed; bring your own

• Check how much rain has fallen upriver before you go: a fresh, dark river means freshwater fish, not reds
• Fall and winter are the best seasons for the salt fish
• Bring both a saltwater and a freshwater license if you plan to keep whatever bites
• Weekday mornings are the quietest time on the river, before the summer boat traffic builds
• Look out for the park's white squirrels and red-cockaded woodpeckers between bites

The park is managed by Florida State Parks, and all fishing must follow the rules on size, number, method of capture and season.

• Hours are 8 a.m. to sunset; campers follow campground rules
• Fishing is allowed in designated areas only; the park names the floating dock on the Dead River and the river shoreline by the main picnic area
• A Florida freshwater license is needed for freshwater fish and a saltwater license for saltwater species, unless you are exempt
• Pay the vehicle fee on entry; boats pay a $4 launch fee
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything