St. Andrews State Park Jetty Fishing

St. Andrews State Park Jetty is the rock jetty on the park side of St. Andrews Pass, a scenic and busy shore spot where every tide carries bait and fish between St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf.

• Sheepshead, redfish, flounder and black drum all year; Spanish mackerel, pompano and little tunny in season
• The jetty shelters a calm, shallow lagoon behind it that is popular with families and snorkelers
• Shell Island lies just across the pass
• The park also has two fishing piers, one on the Gulf and one on Grand Lagoon; the Gulf pier reopened fully in August 2025 after storm repairs

St. Andrews State Park is at the east end of Panama City Beach, at the end of Thomas Drive, with the jetty in the park's eastern day-use area by the pass.

• Getting there: follow Thomas Drive east to the park entrance on State Park Lane and follow signs to the jetty area
• Entry: a per-vehicle entrance fee is charged at the gate; pedestrians and cyclists pay a smaller fee
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
• Parking: day-use lots near the jetty and the Jetty Store
• The walk: elevated boardwalks lead to the beach and the jetty overlook; the jetty itself is bare, uneven boulders

The pass brings bay and Gulf fish together.

• Spring (Mar–May): sheepshead peak, pompano moving through the pass, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and cobia passing
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Spanish mackerel, little tunny and ladyfish on the tide; mangrove snapper in the rocks; redfish and flounder
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the prime season, with bull redfish, flounder leaving the bay, pompano and big bluefish
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead and black drum in the rocks, speckled trout and redfish on warmer days

Fish heavy enough to pull fish away from the rocks.

• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook with a short leader, dropped straight down the face of the rocks
• Redfish and black drum: live shrimp, crab or cut mullet on a knocker rig with 1–3 oz of lead
• Flounder: a Carolina rig with a live mud minnow or finger mullet along the sand at the base of the rocks
• Spanish mackerel, bluefish and little tunny: gotcha plugs, spoons and small metal jigs on the moving tide
• Pompano: small pompano jigs bounced along the sand
• 20–30 lb braid, 30–40 lb leader and a long-handled net or rope gaff

Tides here are small, mostly one high and one low a day, but the pass funnels the whole bay's flow.

• The outgoing tide pulls bait and clearer bay water out of the pass and fires up mackerel and reds
• Slack water and the first of the incoming are best for sheepshead and flounder
• A wind blowing in from the Gulf against an outgoing tide stacks up rough water at the tip; stay back from it
• The park opens at 8 a.m.; on hot summer days the first hours after opening and the last hours before sundown fish best
• Clear, green water is best; heavy rain dirties the bay water for a few days

The rocks demand care, and the lagoon side is shared with swimmers and snorkelers.

• The boulders are uneven, sharp and slick when wet; wear non-slip shoes and never walk barefoot
• Strong currents run at the tip of the jetty; do not swim or wade off the outer rocks
• Heavy boat traffic runs through the pass, especially on summer weekends
• Summer lightning: there is no shelter on the rocks
• Watch for stingrays when wading in the lagoon
• Not wheelchair accessible on the rocks; the park lists its two fishing piers and the boardwalk to the jetty overlook as accessible, and beach wheelchairs are available at the ranger station

The park is well equipped.

• Restrooms, with outdoor showers at each day-use parking area
• A picnic area at the jetties, one of three in the park
• The Camp Store sells bait and tackle, ice and supplies; the Jetty Store sells food, snacks, drinks and beach gear
• Two fishing piers (Gulf and Grand Lagoon) for easier fishing
• Campground, boat ramp and the Shell Island shuttle in the park

• Arrive at the 8 a.m. opening on summer weekends, when the park is busiest
• Fish the first rocks near the beach for sheepshead in spring; they are the safest ground too
• Watch the tide: the outgoing is best for mackerel and reds, slack for sheepshead
• Keep casts clear of boats in the pass and of snorkelers in the lagoon
• Pick up fiddler crabs and live shrimp on the way in; the park's Camp Store also sells bait and tackle
• If the rocks are crowded or wet, try the park's Gulf pier instead

St. Andrews State Park is managed by the Florida Park Service, and park rules are posted.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• All fishing in the park must follow state rules on size, number, method of capture and season
• Park hours apply; the park closes at sundown
• Spearfishing is not allowed anywhere in the park
• State park rules protect wildlife other than the fish you catch: do not collect crabs or other animals for bait, and leave the lagoon's marine life undisturbed
• Pets are not allowed on the beach or boardwalks
• Shore-based shark fishing requires the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything