Island View Park, Carrabelle Fishing

Island View Park puts two piers over the rich grass flats of St. George Sound, with Dog Island on the horizon.

• Two fishing piers and boardwalks with benches and swings
• Speckled trout, redfish, flounder and sheepshead most of the year
• A kayak launch onto the sound's grass flats
• Repaired after Hurricane Michael and reopened in December 2022

The park is on the water side of US 98 about 1.8 miles east of Carrabelle, a short way east of the Will S. Kendrick Sports Complex.

• Getting there: follow US 98 east out of Carrabelle toward Lanark Village; the park is on the right, on St. George Sound
• Parking: a paved lot at the park, resurfaced by the county after the storm
• Entry: a county park with no entry fee listed
• The walk: short boardwalks lead from the parking to the two piers
• Hours are not published; follow the posted signs

St. George Sound has some of the richest grass flats in Florida, according to the county's tourism office, and they feed fish all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): trout and reds on the grass, sheepshead on the pilings, Spanish mackerel and bluefish arriving
• Summer (Jun-Aug): trout at dawn, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and pompano, flounder on sand patches
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best months for redfish and flounder, with trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum; trout on warm, calm afternoons

A 7 foot spinning rod with 10 to 15 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader suits both piers.

• Trout and reds: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead over the grass
• Topwater plugs at first light in summer
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp dropped beside the pilings
• Flounder: mud minnows dragged over sandy patches
• Spanish mackerel and pompano: small spoons and pompano jigs when fish show
• Bring a landing net; the decks sit above the water

Tides in the sound bring two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, and the water is usually clear over the grass.

• A moving tide over the grass is key; slack water is slow
• Low light is best: dawn, dusk and cloudy days
• A south wind makes the sound choppy and cloudy along this shore; calm days fish best
• Summer heat pushes fish into deeper water by midmorning
• After winter cold fronts, fish the warmest part of the afternoon

The park is small, level and easy to use.

• The piers and boardwalks are close to the parking and easy walking
• Leave the piers at the first thunder; storms build fast over the sound
• Take care crossing or pulling out onto US 98
• Shuffle your feet if you wade; stingrays are common on the flats
• Bring water and sun protection; shade is limited until the new pavilion is finished

The county's tourism office and the Carrabelle chamber list two fishing piers, boardwalks with benches, porch-style swings and room to launch kayaks, with a portable toilet rather than a restroom building.

• Two fishing piers and boardwalks
• Benches and porch-style swings
• A kayak launch
• A portable toilet; a restroom and a covered pavilion were put out to contract in 2026
• Bait, ice and food in Carrabelle

• Paddle out from the kayak launch to reach the grass flats beyond casting range
• Sunrise and sunset over the sound are superb; the piers look out toward Dog Island
• Fish the first hours of a rising tide over the grass for trout
• If the sound is rough, the Carrabelle River in town is more sheltered
• Check for construction notices before a trip while the new restroom and pavilion are built

Island View Park is a Franklin County park; follow any posted rules and construction notices.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Take all line, bait and trash home
• Protect the seagrass when wading or launching a kayak
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything