St. George Island State Park Fishing

St. George Island State Park holds the wild eastern end of St. George Island, with long, empty beaches and a quiet bay shore. Its nine miles of beach give surf anglers plenty of room.

• Miles of undeveloped Gulf beach and dunes
• Pompano, Gulf whiting, redfish and Spanish mackerel in the surf
• Speckled trout, redfish and flounder along the Apalachicola Bay shore
• Few people, big skies and nesting shorebirds

The park is at the eastern end of East Gulf Beach Drive on St. George Island, reached across the St. George Island Bridge from Eastpoint.

• Getting there: cross the bridge from US 98, turn left at the island's main intersection and follow East Gulf Beach Drive to the entrance
• Entry: an entrance fee is charged at the gate
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
• Parking: day-use areas along the park drive with boardwalks to the beach
• The walk: short boardwalks over the dunes, then soft sand; bay-side access for wading

Surf species on the Gulf side, estuary species on the bay side.

• Spring (Mar–May): pompano and whiting peak in the surf, Spanish mackerel and bluefish arrive, trout on the bay flats
• Summer (Jun–Aug): whiting, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish at dawn; trout and redfish on the bay side early and late; sharks along the beach
• Fall (Sep–Nov): pompano return, bull redfish in the surf, flounder along the bay shore
• Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting and redfish on calm days; trout in deeper bay water

Pack a surf rod and a light spinning rod.

• Pompano and whiting: double-drop rigs with 1/0–2/0 hooks, 2–4 oz pyramid sinkers, sand fleas or fresh shrimp
• Surf redfish: cut mullet or crab on a fish-finder rig
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: gotcha plugs and spoons when bait shows near the bar
• Bay trout and reds: live shrimp under a popping cork, soft plastics on light jigheads, topwater at first light
• Flounder: live mud minnows along sandy edges on the bay side
• 9–11 ft surf rods and 15–20 lb line for the Gulf; 10 lb braid for the bay

Tides are modest, about 1.5 to 3 feet, with two uneven highs and lows on most days and sometimes only one (NOAA's St. George Island East End station); wind and water clarity decide the day.

• A light onshore breeze and some surf bring pompano into the first trough
• On rough south-wind days, fish the sheltered bay side
• In the bay, a moving tide over the grass is best; trout feed at dawn and dusk
• After heavy rain upriver, the Apalachicola River clouds the bay; the Gulf side stays clearer
• Cool fall mornings after a front are prime for pompano and reds

The park is remote, so be self-sufficient.

• Rip currents occur along the Gulf beach; do not wade deep in rough surf
• Shuffle your feet to avoid stingrays on both shores
• Summer lightning: leave the beach or water at the first thunder
• Little shade and strong sun; bring water and shade
• There are no lifeguards
• Boardwalks reach the beach from the day-use areas; mobi-mats run to the water at beach accesses 1 and 8 and the East Slough and Sugar Hill areas, and beach wheelchairs are lent at the ranger station

Day-use facilities are spread along the park drive, with several parking areas and numbered beach accesses. No bait is sold in the park, so stock up before you enter.

• Restrooms, rinse showers and picnic shelters in the day-use areas
• Boardwalks to the beach
• Canoes and kayaks for rent at the ranger station, and two small natural boat ramps on the bay
• The main campground has been closed for renovations since July 13, 2026
• Bait and tackle shops on the island outside the park, which the county tourist office lists

• Fresh sand fleas are the best pompano bait here; buy them before you come, since state park rules protect animal life other than game and food fish
• Drive to the farther day-use areas for emptier troughs
• If the Gulf is rough, switch to the bay shore for trout and reds
• Early mornings in April, May and October are the best pompano days
• Buy bait and ice on the island before you enter the park
• Give nesting shorebirds and sea turtle nests a wide berth

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is managed by the Florida Park Service.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Fishing must follow state rules on size, number, method of capture and season
• Park hours apply; the park closes at sundown
• Stay off the dunes and out of posted nesting areas; pets are not allowed on the beach
• Shore-based shark fishing requires the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything