Sunset Park, Mexico Beach Fishing

Sunset Park, Mexico Beach is a small city park on the Gulf, with parking and restrooms, that makes an easy base for surf fishing on the city's uncrowded beach.

• The city names fishing from shore as one of the reasons to visit its 3.1 miles of beach
• Trough fish such as pompano and whiting in spring and fall, redfish on the bar, and mackerel with bluefish when the bait comes through
• Picnic areas, plenty of parking and restrooms
• The city pier is still being rebuilt after Hurricane Michael

The park is at 1813 Highway 98 in Mexico Beach, right on the beach at the east end of Bay County.

• Getting there: follow US 98 through Mexico Beach to the park on the Gulf side of the highway
• Parking: plenty of spaces at the park
• Entry: a city park; no fee is listed
• The walk: from the park onto the sand, then a short walk to the water
• The city is building an ADA dune walkover at the park; check its progress before you rely on it

Mexico Beach lies on a quiet stretch of the Panhandle at the east end of Bay County, and its surf is at its best in spring and fall.

• Spring (Mar-May): the first pompano and plenty of whiting move into the trough as the water warms; mackerel and bluefish harry the bait, and a cobia may swim by along the bar
• Summer (Jun-Aug): ladyfish and mackerel early, whiting all day, redfish in the evening
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run draws redfish, bluefish and mackerel in close, pompano come back, and a few flounder and speckled trout hold in the trough
• Winter (Dec-Feb): slow; whiting and redfish when it is calm

Travel light: one long rod for distance and one short spinning rod for the near trough are plenty.

• Trough fish: two small hooks on dropper loops above a pyramid weight, tipped with sand fleas or a strip of shrimp
• Redfish: fresh cut mullet, or a lively finger mullet, on a sliding-sinker rig lobbed out to the bar
• Mackerel and bluefish: a chrome spoon or a gotcha plug ripped back fast through breaking fish
• Flounder and trout: a small soft plastic crawled along the bottom of the trough in fall
• A small pompano jig hopped slowly over the sand also works while the tide is moving
• Stand rods in a sand spike and keep the line tight, clear of anyone swimming

The tide along this coast is slight and often only one a day, so the look of the water tells you more than the tide chart.

• Pick days when the water is clear and green and a small surf is running
• Fish while the tide is moving; slack water is slow in the trough
• In summer, fish early or stay for the evening; the park is known for its sunsets
• Strong southerly winds churn up the surf, which usually settles within a couple of days
• Tannins from the pine woods and wetlands can stain the water tea-brown; the city says it is natural and harmless, though the bite is usually better in clearer water

The beach faces the open Gulf, so plan for sun, surf and summer storms.

• Rip currents can form off this beach; keep out of the water when the surf is up
• Slide your feet along the bottom in the trough so stingrays move off
• Head for the car as soon as you hear thunder
• The sand has no shade: carry water, a hat and sunscreen
• Walking on the dunes is against city rules, so use the park's way down to the beach
• For now the way down is soft sand; the city's planned dune walkover should make it easier

The city keeps the park simple but useful.

• Restrooms
• Picnic areas
• Plenty of parking
• The city lists no bait or tackle sales here, so arrive with what you need
• The city's public boat ramp on 44th Street charges visitors a daily fee, for anglers bringing a boat or kayak
• More parking at 37th Street, the old pier site, and at the public boat ramp and Canal Park

• Mexico Beach is a Leave No Trace town: anything left on the beach from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. is thrown away
• Dogs and other animals are not allowed on the beach
• Fill in any hole you dig before you leave; holes may be no more than 2 feet deep
• The canal at Canal Park, at the west end of town, is a good change of scene when the surf is rough
• Sea turtles nest here from May to October: keep lights off the beach at night

Sunset Park and the beach are managed by the City of Mexico Beach, and the city's beach rules apply, with fines of up to $500.

• No glass, fires, fireworks, vehicles or animals on the beach, and no overnight camping
• Keep off the dunes and do not disturb the vegetation
• Mexico Beach is a bird sanctuary
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything