Free fishing action: Get lured in

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Time to break out that dusty old tackle box and those creaky rods and reels: Florida’s last license-free freshwater fishing day of the year is Dec. 28.

License-free fishing days come around just eight times a year. They’re an opportunity for avid fishermen to take buddies who don’t have a license out to wet a line, for vacationers without a Florida fishing license to spend a day angling without paying for a non-resident license, and for fishermen who let their license lapse to pick up a rod again.

Interested in taking advantage of the freebie fishing action, but aren’t sure where to go?

Here are a few options nearby:

Princess Place Preserve
2500 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast
313-4020

Water: Brackish / Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: Free
Other info: The water is brackish and shallow with lots of oyster bars. The preserve is popular for snook and redfish, but watch the tides when you launch a canoe or kayak, or you might find yourself stuck on the flats.

Varn Park
3665 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast
313-4020

Water: Salt / Hours: Dawn to 11 p.m.
Admission: Free
Other info: This pet-friendly beach park offering surf fishing is known for whiting, blues and snapper. Bring stout surf tackle.

Bings Landing County Park
5862 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast
313-4020

Water: Brackish, salt / Hours: Dawn to 11 p.m.; boat ramp stays open 24 hours
Admission: Free
Other info: Bings Landing, on the Intracoastal, has a boat ramp, canoe launch and a new fishing pier. Fishermen go for reds, jacks, trout and snapper.

Flagler Beach Fishing Pier
105 S. 2nd Street, Flagler Beach
386-517-2436

Water: Salt / Hours: 6 a.m. to midnight
Admission: $6 to fish.
Other info: Folks try for redfish, croakers, bluefish and kingfish. Lucky ones might nab a tarpon. A bait shop on the pier sells frozen shrimp, sand fleas, squid and mullet, as well as snacks and drinks.

Bull Creek Campground on Dead Lake
3861 County Road 2006, Bunnell
313-4020

Water: Fresh / Hours: Dawn to 11 p.m.; boat ramp stays open 24 hours
Admission: Free to fish, boat
Other info: Bull Creek Campground on Dead Lake is popular for specks, bream and bass. Fishermen with a motor boat, or ones with muscles and a canoe or kayak, can make the roughly 1.7-mile trip from the boat ramp on Dead Lake south into Crescent Lake, which connects with it. A bait shop at the campground is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and sells live bait. Watch out for the monster alligators the area is known for, and for high winds on Crescent Lake.