Unit Four Beach, St. George Island Fishing

Unit Four Beach is a wade angler's spot: a small bay beach on St. George Island that opens onto shallow oyster bars full of fish.

• Some of Apalachicola Bay's most productive shallow oyster bars within wading distance
• Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and black drum
• Quiet, with minimal parking and a single picnic table
• A birding favorite, with freshwater pools and shorebirds

The beach is on the bay side of St. George Island at East 6th Street, east of the island's center.

• Getting there: cross the bridge to the island, follow East Gorrie Drive east from the island's center, then turn north on East 6th Street to the small lot at its end
• Parking: minimal, just a few cars; do not block driveways
• Entry: a beach listed by the county's tourism office, with no fee listed
• The walk: a short walk to a narrow bay beach, then shell and sand
• Wear foot protection; the oyster bars are sharp

The oyster bars along this shore hold the bay's core inshore fish most of the year.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and trout on the bars, sheepshead and black drum around the shell
• Summer (Jun-Aug): trout at dawn, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish chasing bait, flounder on the sand
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best months, with redfish schooling on the bars and flounder moving
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead on the shell; trout on warm afternoons

Wade light with a 7 foot spinning rod, 10 lb braid and a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

• Redfish: gold spoons and soft plastics cast along the edges of the bars, or live shrimp under a cork
• Trout: a popping cork with shrimp, or a paddle-tail on a 1/8 oz jighead
• Flounder: a mud minnow dragged over sandy spots beside the bars
• Sheepshead and black drum: shrimp or fiddler crabs on a short leader near the shell
• Carry a small landing net and a stringer or fish bag kept away from you

Tides in the bay are small, with two uneven highs and lows on most days and only one on some, and the bars are best as the water moves on or off them.

• A rising tide pushes reds up onto the bars to feed
• At low water the bars show; fish the deeper edges and cuts
• Calm, clear mornings are best for spotting fish
• Wind makes the shallow bay cloudy; pick a light-wind day
• After heavy rain upriver the bay can run muddy and fresh

This is a wading spot with no services, so plan ahead.

• Oyster shell cuts: wear wading boots or sturdy shoes
• Shuffle your feet; stingrays are common on the flats
• Watch the tide so you are not cut off on a far bar
• Get off the water at the first thunder
• The beach is narrow and sandy with limited parking, so it is not suited to wheelchairs

The tourism office lists a single picnic table and minimal parking, and nothing else, so come ready to look after yourself.

• A picnic table
• Minimal parking, for just a few cars
• No restrooms or water; the public beach by Lighthouse Park has a bathhouse
• Bring bait with you; the tourism office points anglers to Eastpoint's bait and tackle shops, across the bridge
• Bring insect repellent in the warm months, plus water and sun protection for the flats

• Arrive early: parking is only for a few cars
• Look for pushing wakes and tailing reds on the bars at low light
• Wade slowly and quietly; fish on the shallow bars spook easily in clear water
• The freshwater pools behind the beach are good for rails, kingfishers and other birds
• Stay off private property along the street
• Take everything home with you, including line and bait

Unit Four Beach is one of the beaches Franklin County's tourism office recommends on St. George Island; follow any posted signs.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay is controlled by the FWC; check before taking any
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Respect private property and posted signs along the street
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything