Strickland Memorial
North coast launch
Strickland Memorial is a north-coast kayak and paddleboard launch, free to park.
Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park, known to everyone in Hudson as Hudson Beach, packs a lot into six acres. Use the boat ramp and the kayak hand-launch at the south end of the park, not the seawall park up the road, that stretch has no launch. From the ramp it is quick, easy access to the Gulf through the Hudson channel, and the grass flats just offshore are some of the most productive on this coast. It is a busy, social spot: a single ramp that backs up on weekends, a beach and boardwalk for sunset, and two waterfront restaurants right on the property, so come early if you want a parking space and a quiet launch. The ramp was rebuilt and widened in 2024 with a new floating dock, so the launch itself is in good shape. Watch for powerboat traffic at the ramp and keep to the channel edges on your way out. Parking a car to hand-launch a board is free; trailered boats pay a ten-dollar daily launch fee at the kiosk, card only.
Where do I park, and is it free?
- Cost
- Free
- Parking
- Moderate
- Restrooms
- yes
Free public boat ramp on Armand Way. Use the ramp, not the seawall park up the road.
How clear is the water?
Channel water at the ramp, opens to the Gulf.
What will I see?
- Dolphins along the channel and the near flats
- Manatees in the warmer channel and canal water through the cold months
- Snook and redfish near the channel, trout and sheepshead on the flats and structure
What's the fishing like?
Channel and Gulf: snook and redfish near the channel, trout and sheepshead on the flats and structure offshore.
How do I share the water here?
The grass flats off the channel are seagrass and the nursery for most of the fish people come here to catch, and they scar in a single careless pass. On a low tide stay in the marked channel and step off onto sand rather than grass, and if you are sharing the launch with motorboats, give them and the shallows room.