A unique website dedicated to fishing information from Florida's Northern Big Bend. This includes the area from the Econfina River west to the Apalachicola River
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A friend of mine that fishes Aucilla regularly says he has a Florida State Parks annual permit and this entitles him to launch at the Aucilla River landing.
I say it doesn't permit him to launch there as this is not a Florida State Park. I have sent the Parks Dept an email asking them...but they have ignored it..
Others say the launch fee there is on the honor system....and you don't have to....if you have no honor. I always pay my fee.
What say you?
My understanding is Econfina Landing is, indeed, a State Park. The Annual Florida State Park pass is good there. However, the State Park pass is costly, and for most of us it's less expensive to pay the $5 launch fee. I've never heard the launch fee is on the honor system. I've also seen a FLW officer patrolling the parking area. I'd rather pay the $5 than the fine.
EDIT: I just went to the Florida State Parks division, on line. Econfina River State Park is listed. If I followed any link for further information, there were technical difficulties.
The use of an annual pass for state park launching at Econfina saves me
about $200+ per year. I don't think the ramp at Aucilla has any
connection to the state park system. About 11 launches = annual
cost and any more are a savings.
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
"Aucilla" is a county maintained ramp, or so I was told by Lester Walker Jr.
Also was told it was leased out to individuals to run and collect ramp fee's.
The ramp is county maintained. You can purchase a annual pass for $20, but you have to go to Perry to get it.
If anybody goes, let me know. I will give you my $20, and yo can get me one as well.
They are thinking about increasing the rates to cover the costs of the repair where Birddog dropped his boat.
I think folks started talking about the Econfina ramp instead of the Aucilla ramp...
The Econfina ramp is indeed a Florida DEP State Park...
From what I understand, the Aucilla Landing, off of Mandalay Road, is under the authority of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge which is a Federal Agency. The last time I visited that ramp (~2 months ago) there was a honor system launch fee setup with an 'iron ranger' to collect the funds. I'm not sure whether or not the St. Marks WR Annual Pass is valid at the boat ramp or not. I know it will save you a ton of money if you launch down at the lighthouse regularly.
If you use that ramp a lot, I would call the Refuge and see if their annual pass will work.
"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." - John Buchan
I wasn't thinking straight. I read "Aucilla" and thought "Econfina". The Aucilla ramp is in the St. Marks Refuge, but is maintained by Taylor County. You can get your annual pass at the Taylor County Courthouse, in Perry.
Tin Can....you can only get the $20 annual pass in Perry if you are a Florida resident. Georgia folks can't obtain one.
The annual Florida State Park pass is available to everyone for $43.34 ....but this is what I don't think is recognized at Aucilla landing.
Incidently...I was at Aucilla River on Memorible Day. The top of the "put your money" stainless steel box on a post was cut complely off and everything was stolen.Looked like the crooks used a can cutter. Next week a new one was there. Same thing happened during Memorial Day 2005. Must be that Memorial Day gang.
