- May 2, 2024
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How recreational fishing means business for residents and for Flagler tourism.
Just beyond the towering, historic oaks at Bings Landing, two fishermen stand at the pier: Jim Sullivan and his son, Matthew, cast a line into the Matanzas River. They have stiff competition on this golden, Friday afternoon: A blue heron, which has become something like a mascot at Bings, struts along the railing several yards away. He’s eyeing the fish, too.
There are no houses in sight. No bridges, no traffic, no buildings — other than the newly christened Captain’s BBQ, Bait & Tackle.
There, 21-year-old Brandon Reid, of Palm Coast’s C-section, buys some bait before easing a canoe into the boat launch, where fish are leaping out of the water.
While these fishermen are locals, Capt. Chris Herrera, who co-owns the new Captain’s BBQ, Bait & Tackle at Bings with Mike Goodman, says 90% of his clients for fishing charters in the Intracoastal are tourists from outside Flagler County, and they appreciate the relative solitude.
“One thing I love about this area is the lack of fishing pressure we have,” Herrera says, finally taking a moment to relax among the round tables in the corner of the bright, clean bait shop, where a customer is sitting down to a half rack of ribs. “In Jacksonville or Mosquito Lagoon, the pressure is tremendous on those fish. You could fish a flat, and there would be four or five other boats intruding on your schools and buzzing by you. Here, you could go a whole day on a flat and never see another boat.”
In more busy areas in Northeast Florida, he says, “you could have guys next to you and they’re stomping and making noise in their boats. That puts fish on alert and spooks them off their happy spots. It can shut down a bite. It’s the difference between catching 10 to 15 redfish and catching zero.”
Capt. Rob Ottlein, of Osprey Fishing Charters, says that of the 70 or so charters he leads in the area, 85% to 90% are with tourists.
“(Fishing is) a lot more popular than you’d think,” says Georgia Turner, vice president of tourist development for the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates. “It’s definitely a part of our tourism mix.” She adds that it’s one of the more affordable vacation options. Hererra says he charges about $350 for a half day on the water.
To promote local fishing, the Tourist Development Council publishes ads in the Salt and Fresh Water Guides.
“It’s part of the Florida experience,” Turner says. “(One of those things that) so many people want to do but we as locals don’t really think about.”
One local fisherman, Jordan Farrell, takes full advantage of Flagler County’s fishing spots. One day on the Intracoastal Waterway near Flagler Beach, he has one hand on a paddle and the other on a fishing pole. He’s standing up on a surfboard, trolling for fish.
“It’s a neat concept just to go and chill — no motor, no noise, just you and the fishing pole,” says Farrell, who moved to Flagler County seven weeks ago from Ocean City, Md. “It’s almost like extreme fishing, especially in the ocean. It gets your adrenaline pumping.”
Farrell says he spends between $1,000 to $4,000 per year on fishing. He has a few secret spots to fish, but he’s not telling. “Avid fishermen don’t give up their favorite spots,” he says.
GRAB SOME GRUB
Captain’s BBQ, Bait & Tackle opens
Captain’s BBQ, Bait & Tackle held a ribbon cutting March 19, at Bings Landing.
Open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., the shop will carry fresh and frozen bait and a full line of tackle, snacks, beer, wine, water and ice. The bait shop will also have boating and fishing equipment, as well as stock bike-repair items.
“We will be serving barbecue prepared fresh every day except Monday from 11 a.m. until it runs out. And if you want to call in an order, we will make sure we have it for you,” said Mike Goodman, shop co-owner.
Rentals of kayaks and bicycles will also be available at the facility in the future.
“This is part of the eco tourism that Flagler County is trying to achieve,” Goodman said.
Flagler County’s General Services Department expanded the restaurant and made improvements to the facility. Future plans call for new bathrooms and a refurbished dock.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners also dedicated a new fishing pier, canoe and kayak launch, two pedestrian bridges, a picnic pavilion and walking trails.
The improvements were funded through a combination of several sources including a National Scenic Byways grant and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding through the Florida Department of Transportation. Florida Inland Navigation funding was also provided to design some of the improvements.
Goodman, who co-owns the shop with charter fishing Capt. Chris Herrera, was in the wholesale bakery business for 40 years, with a company called Juniors Cheesecakes and Desserts, out of New York.
Goodman met Herrera by chance 12 years ago at the Java Joint and the two went fishing. Then, 10 years ago, he bought some land in Flagler County and eventually built a house. “We’d come here every three months, then every month,” Goodman says. “That turned into flying out of Jacksonville every morning at 6 a.m. and coming back every Thursday evening.” Now, he lives here full time. He says he has met others who have followed a similar path to Flagler County.
“I came here to retire,” says Goodman, beaming, as yet another customer places an order at the cash register. “
He and Herrera are optimistic about the shop because it’s not just a bait shop — it’s also a restaurant.
“Between Chris Herrera, one of the foremost fishing guides in Northeast Florida, and my culinary background, we felt we could do something extraordinary here,” Goodman says.
— Mike Cavaliere and Shanna Fortier contributed to this story.
