10th Street West Beach Access, St. George Island Fishing

10th Street West Beach Access is a plain county walkover on the quiet west end of St. George Island, a spot for anglers who want empty sand and a Gulf surf line to themselves. It is an everyday surf-fishing stop, not a famous spot.

• A short walkover to open Gulf beach with little foot traffic
• Whiting, redfish and pompano are the typical surf catches here
• Small lot, no restrooms, so come prepared
• Fishing here is implied by the beach, not posted by the county

The access is at the foot of 10th Street West where it meets West Gorrie Drive, on the west half of St. George Island, a barrier island reached over the long bridge from Eastpoint.

• Parking: a small lot listed at about five spaces; watch where you park, since the neighboring streets are residential
• A dune walkover leads to the sand, and there is a trash can
• No restrooms at the access
• The pin sits at the beach end of the walkover; the nearest developed beach with facilities is the public beach near the lighthouse, a few miles east

This is open Gulf surf on the Panhandle, so the catch follows the water temperature.

• Spring (Mar-May): whiting, pompano and trout as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel and bluefish on bait schools, plus sharks and rays in the cuts
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and flounder along the troughs, with the best surf bite of the year
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting and the odd redfish on calm, mild days

Keep the gear simple and mobile, and walk the beach to find a trough.

• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook bottom rig with a 2 to 3 oz pyramid sinker, tipped with fresh shrimp or sand fleas
• Redfish: cut mullet or fresh shrimp on a fish-finder rig, cast just past the breakers
• Trout and mackerel: a small jig or spoon on 10 to 15 lb line when baitfish show
• Use a 9 to 10 foot rod and a sand spike so you can watch two lines
• Bring bait; do not count on buying it nearby

Franklin County has two uneven highs and lows on most days, so check the nearest NOAA tide station before you go.

• Fish the last of the incoming tide and the first of the falling tide, when the troughs hold bait
• A light onshore breeze keeps the water cloudy enough for redfish; flat clear days favor whiting and pompano
• After a hard blow the surf turns muddy and the bite shuts down for a day
• Early morning and evening beat the midday heat

This is an unguarded beach with no lifeguard, so you are on your own.

• Rip currents can form near the sandbars; do not wade out past your waist
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays
• Sharks feed in the cuts between bars in warm water; unhook and release carefully
• Leave the beach at the first thunder, since summer afternoon storms build fast
• The walkover is a boardwalk over dunes, but the sand beyond is soft and not wheelchair friendly

Facilities here are minimal.

• A small parking area and a trash can
• No restrooms at the access
• No bait shop at the access; buy bait before you arrive and check shop hours
• No lights, no showers, no food
• Bring water, sun protection and a bag to carry out your trash

• Walk a hundred yards either way to find a trough before you set up
• Fresh shrimp outfishes frozen on whiting and pompano
• Arrive early in summer, as the island lots fill and you want a spot to park
• Carry out all trash, and the beach has no staff to do it for you
• Do not leave tents or chairs overnight, since the county removes items left on its beaches
• Glass containers are not allowed on county beaches

This access is managed by Franklin County. The county does not list fishing at this access, so read the posted signs before you cast, and follow any rules at the walkover.

• Franklin County bars glass containers and requires personal items to be removed from the beach overnight
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything