Recreational Fishing

Franklin County is a recreational freshwater fisherman’s paradise. Miles of freshwater creeks, sloughs and rivers flow through the North Florida wilds and empty into nutrient-rich Apalachicola Bay and surrounding waters. Depending on the time of year, tide and weather, fishermen trolling the fresh and brackish backwaters here can expect to land redfish, trout, largemouth bass, bream, snook and catfish. Depending on your situation, you can fish the freshwater areas by boat, kayak or on foot – you’ll be surprised how accessible the waters are here.

Beginning at the easternmost end of Franklin County, the Ochlockonee River features many freshwater fishing spots along the river banks - be sure to check out underneath the western edge of the Ochlockonee River Bridge. The Bald Point State Park is a well known fishing spot – the brackish bayside shallows are lined with a maze of oyster bars and channels that go from shallow to deep, depending on the tide. Heading west to Carrabelle, head up New River and explore the Tate’s Hell State Forest where you’ll find nearly a dozen boat ramps and kayak/canoe launches to put you close to the action. Further west, the Apalachicola River system and its distributaries, including the St. Marks River, Little St. Marks River, and East River, are also freshwater fishing havens. Shoreline access to this river system is available from the public docks on the waterfront in Apalachicola and at the City Dock (Ten-foot Hole) under the Hwy. 98 Bridge. Public boating access points to all freshwater rivers and creeks can be found here.