Billy Joe Rish Recreation Area Fishing

Billy Joe Rish Recreation Area is a state-run day-use park that gives you both sides of Cape San Blas: open Gulf surf on one side and the calm, grassy shore of St. Joseph Bay on the other. You can choose the water that suits the wind.

• Gulf beach and bay shore in the same park
• Surf catches of pompano, whiting and redfish, bay catches of seatrout and flounder
• Boardwalk access and a tunnel under the road between the two sides
• Its own entrance and parking, separate from the nearby county access points

The park is at 6773 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, on the Cape San Blas peninsula, and Florida State Parks runs it.

• Fee: the park lists a per-vehicle day-use fee, so bring a card or cash and check the current amount
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset
• Parking: on-site, with boardwalks to the Gulf beach and to the bay side
• The two sides connect by a tunnel beneath the road
• Which bay-side dock or platform is open changes with the park's improvements, so ask at the entrance

Gulf surf and bay flats fish differently here.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting on the Gulf side, seatrout and redfish on the bay grass
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, Spanish mackerel and bluefish near the surf, seatrout on the bay at dawn
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish, flounder and the best seatrout bite on the bay side, with pompano still around
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum, sheepshead and redfish on the bay shore; the surf is slow and cold

Match the tackle to the side you choose.

• Gulf surf: a 9 to 10 foot rod, a two-hook pompano rig with a 1 to 2 oz pyramid weight, sand fleas (buy them; do not dig them in the park), peeled shrimp or small jigs
• Pompano: white or silver jigs with a colored skirt, bounced along the bottom
• Bay side: a live shrimp under a popping cork over grass, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 oz jig head, for seatrout and redfish
• Flounder: a mud minnow or a bucktail dragged slowly along sandy edges
• Use 10 to 15 lb line for the bay and 15 to 20 lb for the surf

Gulf County tides are mixed: about half the days have a single high and low, so check the nearest NOAA station for the day.

• Moving water is best on both sides; the hour either side of a tide change is the prime window
• Calm, clear Gulf mornings suit pompano; a stiff onshore wind muddies the surf
• Cast the bay side on a rising tide, when fish push onto the grass
• A west wind pushes water out of the bay shallows and can make wading tough

Beach and boardwalk access is easy, but the surf is a real Gulf beach.

• Rip currents can run along the Gulf side, so pay attention to the flags and signs
• Leave the beach at the first thunder; summer storms build fast
• Shuffle your feet when wading to warn stingrays
• Carry water and sun protection; there is little shade on the sand
• Access: boardwalks and ramps reach both sides, but check what is currently open

Facilities are those of a state day-use area.

• Parking lot and boardwalks
• A bath house and restrooms on the bay side, as described by the state
• Showers and a swimming area are listed for the Gulf side
• No bait shop in the park that we could confirm; bring bait or buy it on Cape San Blas Road or in Port St. Joe
• Concession and rental offerings vary by season

• Buy sand fleas or shrimp before you arrive; the park does not allow digging bait
• Take the Gulf side early for pompano and switch to the bay when the afternoon wind rises
• Arrive early on summer weekends, when the lot fills up
• Cross the road by the tunnel rather than the pavement with rods and a cooler
• Wear sandals or water shoes for the bay shore; there are oyster shells and rocks in places
• Try a small gold spoon along the bay edge for Spanish mackerel when bait is flipping

The park is managed by Florida State Parks (Florida DEP).

• Open 8 a.m. to sunset, with a per-vehicle day-use fee
• The state lists saltwater fishing among the day-use area's activities; read posted signs for any swim-area limits
• Do not dig bait or collect shells and plants in the park
• 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