Big Lagoon State Park Fishing

Big Lagoon State Park is a quiet state park on the Intracoastal Waterway, built for campers, paddlers and birders, with lagoon shoreline that wade anglers can work for inshore fish. Across the water is Perdido Key.

• Sandy beaches and grass flats along Big Lagoon; the park map shows fishing at West Beach and East Beach
• Speckled trout, redfish and flounder most of the year
• A two-lane boat ramp on the Intracoastal and an observation tower
• Camping, picnic shelters and trails for a full day out

The park is on Gulf Beach Highway about 10 miles southwest of Pensacola, between Pensacola and Perdido Key.

• Getting there: take Gulf Beach Highway west from Pensacola; the entrance is on the south side
• Entry: a per-vehicle entrance fee at the ranger station; walkers and cyclists pay less
• Hours: 8 a.m. Central time to sunset every day
• A paved main park drive of about 2.5 miles links West Beach, East Beach and the boat ramp
• Short walks on sand and boardwalk from the parking areas to the shoreline

The lagoon is shallow and grassy, so it fishes best from spring through fall.

• Spring (Mar–May): speckled trout and redfish on the grass edges, sheepshead on any structure, bluefish and the first Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun–Aug): trout early in the day, flounder on sand holes, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel along the waterway
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the best season, with redfish schooling, flounder moving toward the passes, bluefish and trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec–Feb): white trout and sheepshead; speckled trout in deeper water on warm afternoons

Light spinning tackle with 10 to 15 lb braid is ideal for wade fishing here.

• Speckled trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a 3-inch soft plastic on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead
• Redfish: gold spoons and soft plastics cast ahead of cruising fish, or cut mullet on the bottom
• Flounder: a finger mullet or a jig worked slowly along the edges of sand holes
• Bluefish and Spanish mackerel: small spoons retrieved fast when they push along the channel
• Topwater walk-the-dog plugs in the first hours after opening in summer
• Wading lets you reach the drop-off; wear shoes, carry a wading belt and stay out of the marked swimming areas

Tides here are small, mostly one high and one low a day, but they still move water on and off the flats.

• A rising tide floods the grass and pulls trout and reds onto it
• The falling tide drains bait to the edges of the channel; fish the drop-off
• Calm, clear mornings are best for sight-fishing reds
• A strong wind muddies the lagoon, and a hard north wind in winter can drop the water off the flats
• Summer heat pushes fish deeper by late morning

The park's shoreline is gentle and family-friendly.

• There are no lifeguards; swimming is in designated areas along the waterway, so fish well away from swimmers
• Shuffle your feet when wading; stingrays bury in the sand
• Stay well clear of the Intracoastal channel; boat wakes are sudden and the drop-off is steep
• Leave the water at the first sign of lightning
• Boardwalks reach East Beach and the observation tower, and beach wheelchairs are free at the ranger station; elsewhere reaching the waterline means soft sand
• Bring water and sun protection; shade is limited on the beaches

This is a full-service state park.

• Restrooms at the West Beach and East Beach areas, and outdoor showers at picnic areas
• Picnic pavilions, about 5 miles of trails and an observation tower
• A two-lane boat ramp and a hand launch for kayaks on the Intracoastal Waterway
• A 75-site campground with electric hookups and a primitive group camp
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you

• Walk the shoreline at low tide to find sand holes and grass edges, then fish them on the rise
• A popping cork over grass in 3 to 5 feet of water is the classic trout setup
• Paddle a kayak from the hand launch to reach less-fished grass across the lagoon
• Fall mornings bring schooling reds; watch for nervous water
• The park lists crabbing and cast netting for mullet in the lagoon among its popular activities
• Stay out of posted bird and dune areas
• Pair the trip with Perdido Key State Park across the bridge for surf fishing

The Florida Park Service manages the park; park rules are posted at the ranger station.

• All fishing in the park must follow state rules on size, number, method of capture and season
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Beyond crabbing and fishing, state park rules protect animal life; bring or buy bait rather than collecting it
• Pets are allowed only in designated areas; Escambia County prohibits pets on beaches and waterways
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything