Eastpoint Fishing Pier

Eastpoint Fishing Pier is a long run of the old St. George Island bridge, kept for anglers at the mainland end, with deep water and current under the deck.

• A long span of the old bridge beside the modern one over Apalachicola Bay
• Sheepshead and flounder along the pilings
• Redfish, trout and black drum most of the year; mackerel and bluefish in the warm months
• A separate pier from the one at the island end of the bridge

The pier starts on the Eastpoint shore at the mainland end of the St. George Island bridge, just off US 98.

• Getting there: follow US 98 to Eastpoint and turn toward St. George Island; the old bridge span runs beside the new bridge on the Eastpoint side
• Parking: a parking area at the foot of the pier
• Entry: no fee is listed; read the signs at the entrance
• The walk: the old bridge deck is level but long, so a cart helps
• The island-end pier is a separate walk-on span on St. George Island

Eastpoint's tourism page singles out sheepshead and flounder along the pilings, and the county's bays hold reds, trout and black drum all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead on the pilings, black drum, trout and reds; Spanish mackerel and bluefish arrive
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish on bait schools; sharks at night; flounder on the bottom
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best redfish and flounder months, with trout feeding before winter
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings

Bring one rod for the pilings and one for casting.

• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader with a small, strong hook, dropped tight to the pilings
• Flounder: a mud minnow or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, bounced along the bottom near the pilings
• Redfish and trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or soft plastics on a 1/4 oz jighead along the current seams
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: small spoons or gotcha plugs, with a short wire or heavy mono leader
• A drop net or pier gaff is needed to land big fish from the deck

Tides in the bay are small, with two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, but the long span still sees good current through the pilings.

• Moving water is key; the first hours of the incoming and outgoing tide fish best
• Sheepshead feed around the pilings on calm, clear days in late winter and spring
• Strong wind makes the bay rough and cloudy; pick a calm day
• After heavy rain upriver the bay runs fresher and muddier, and the bite slows
• Dawn, dusk and night fish best in summer heat

The pier is long and exposed, so plan for weather.

• Leave the pier at the first thunder; there is no shelter from lightning on the span
• Strong current runs under the deck; do not jump or swim from the pier
• Watch your footing and your backcast, and keep the walkway clear for others
• The deck is level, but the walk out is long; bring water and shade
• Night anglers need a headlamp; do not count on lights

Facilities are basic: the pier is simply the old bridge deck left in place for anglers.

• A parking area at the foot of the pier
• A long, level deck over open water
• Sea turtle rescue instructions and a net have been posted on the pier by a local marine lab
• Restrooms are not confirmed; plan ahead
• Bait, tackle, ice and food in Eastpoint along US 98

• Fiddler crabs are the bait for sheepshead on the pilings from late winter into spring
• Walk out past the first stretch of pilings to reach deeper water
• If you hook a sea turtle, use the rescue net and posted instructions, and do not cut the line
• Bring a cooler and a cart; it is a long walk back to the car
• Check the wind before you go: the span has no shelter, and a strong wind makes fishing hard

Franklin County looks after the pier and its parking area; follow any posted rules.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing, including from a pier, needs the free FWC permit
• Report any hooked or injured sea turtle to the FWC
• Take discarded line and hooks home
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything