Beach Access 32A, Gulf Islands National Seashore Fishing

Beach Access 32A is one of the Park Service's free parking lots along Highway 399 on Santa Rosa Island, with nothing between the lot and the Gulf but open sand. It suits anglers who want room to spread out on a natural, undeveloped beach with no buildings behind it.

• No entrance fee, unlike the Opal Beach complex a couple of miles east
• A paved lot on the Gulf side of the highway, so no road to cross with gear
• Pompano and Gulf whiting in spring and fall, redfish in autumn
• Summer schools of Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish
• No restrooms, water or shade, so come fully supplied

The lot sits on the south side of Highway 399 (J. Earle Bowden Way), between Pensacola Beach and Opal Beach in the seashore's Santa Rosa Area.

• Getting there: cross the Bob Sikes toll bridge from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach, turn east on Highway 399 and continue past Park East into the seashore
• Parking: a paved loop off the highway; park only in marked spaces, since roadside parking is not allowed
• The highway is open around the clock, but the park bars loitering in this lot from sunset until 8 a.m.
• The walk: no boardwalk, just a sandy path marked by posts and rope, roughly 150 yards to the water
• Driving on the beach is not allowed

The surf here holds the full western Panhandle run of beach fish, on a shore with no houses or hotels behind it.

• Spring (Mar-May): the pompano run peaks, with Gulf whiting, bluefish and the first Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel and ladyfish harass glass minnows; Atlantic sharpnose and blacktip sharks feed late in the day
• Fall (Sep-Nov): big redfish move along the beach, pompano return and bluefish schools pass
• Winter (Dec-Feb): Gulf whiting and black drum on shrimp when the surf calms

Pack light but complete: everything has to be carried across open sand.

• Two surf rods of 10 to 12 feet with 15- to 20-lb line; a double-drop pompano rig with size 1 or 1/0 hooks and a 3-oz sinker
• Bring your bait: the national seashore prohibits digging for bait, so buy fleas or fresh shrimp beforehand and pack scented strips as a backup
• A lighter spinning rod with a 3/4-oz spoon or casting jig for mackerel and bluefish
• For redfish, cut mullet on a 5/0 circle hook and a sliding sinker, cast just past the first bar
• For sharks, a heavier rod, a wire leader and a circle hook, with the FWC permit

The Gulf tide off Santa Rosa Island is small. NOAA's Pensacola Beach Pier station predicts one high and one low on most days, with a range of up to about 2 feet.

• The park bars loitering in the lot from sunset until 8 a.m., so plan to arrive after 8; afternoon sea breezes often roughen the water, so the first hours after that are usually the best
• A gentle surf that stirs the sand without muddying it is best for pompano
• Look for darker water marking the trough, and cast along its seaward edge
• Calm, clear days after a front bring fish close enough to see
• Big swells and red flags make the surf dangerous and the fishing poor

This is an isolated beach with no lifeguards, and the Park Service calls the area high-risk for rip currents.

• Never wade deep to cast, and stay out of the water under red flags
• In an emergency, call 911 and give the access number, 32A
• There is no shade or drinking water; bring plenty of both for summer sessions
• Lightning storms build quickly over the island on summer afternoons
• Shuffle your feet to avoid stingrays, and keep out of roped-off shorebird nesting areas
• The route is soft sand with no boardwalk or mat, so it is hard going for wheelchairs and carts with narrow wheels

There are no facilities at Beach Access 32A beyond the parking lot and a pair of interpretive signs.

• A paved parking lot with marked spaces
• No restrooms, showers or drinking fountains
• No concessions or stores anywhere in the Santa Rosa Area
• The nearest restrooms are at the Opal Beach complex to the east, where an entrance fee applies
• Bring bait, ice, water and a trash bag, and take everything home

• Plan a daytime trip: the park bars loitering in this lot from sunset until 8 a.m., and overnight parking is not allowed
• Buy sand fleas or shrimp before you drive out: they are the best pompano baits here, and nothing is sold in the Santa Rosa Area
• Walk a few hundred yards either way along the beach for an emptier trough
• A beach cart with balloon tires makes the long, soft walk from the lot much easier
• Leave pets at home: the Park Service bars pets from all of the seashore's beaches
• After a big storm, check the park's alerts before driving out, as the island road can be affected

Beach Access 32A is in Gulf Islands National Seashore, and National Park Service rules apply along with Florida law.

• Florida fishing regulations apply in seashore waters, and a saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Commercial fishing, including shrimping and crabbing, is prohibited in seashore waters
• Digging for bait is prohibited under federal park rules
• No pets, glass or driving on the beach; no camping or overnight parking
• Stay off the dunes and out of fenced shorebird areas
• Shore-based shark fishing requires the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything