George Core Park, Port St. Joe Fishing

George Core Park is a small bayfront city park with a lighthouse, a sandy beach and shallow water. It is an easy place to wade and cast at the edge of St. Joseph Bay, with the Bay Walk Trail connecting it to the other waterfront parks.

• Shallow, calm bay flats at the west end
• Seatrout, redfish and flounder, with whiting and pompano on clean days
• Light-tackle wading in a family park
• A short walk from the rest of the Port St. Joe waterfront

The park is at 162 Miss Zola's Drive on the Port St. Joe bayfront, and the City of Port St. Joe runs it.

• Getting there: off the waterfront roads in town; the Bay Walk Trail links it with Maddox Park, Frank Pate Park and the jetty park
• Parking: the city page does not describe it, so look for the signed spaces by the park
• Water access: the beach and shallows at the park's west end
• The park is a city park; no entry fee is listed

This is a bay shore fishery.

• Spring (Mar-May): seatrout and whiting on clean mornings, flounder moving up
• Summer (Jun-Aug): seatrout at dawn and dusk, Spanish mackerel and bluefish when bait is close
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and flounder along the grass, seatrout at their best
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on structure nearby; a cold-water day slows the shallows

Travel light and wade the edge.

• A 7 foot spinning rod with 10 lb braid and a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader is plenty
• Seatrout: a live shrimp under a popping cork or a 1/8 oz jig with a soft plastic worked over the grass
• Redfish: a gold spoon or cut bait along drop-offs
• Flounder: a bucktail or mud minnow bounced slowly on sandy patches
• Bring a stringer or a small wade bucket for bait

Gulf County tides are mixed, with about half the days showing one high and one low, so check the nearest NOAA station.

• A rising tide pushes fish onto the shallow flats
• Early morning light and little boat traffic give the best bite
• Clear water after a few calm days is best; a hard south wind stirs the shallows
• Midday summer sun is hot and the fishing slows
• Falling tides pull fish off the shallow sand

The beach is gentle, but it is a shared swimming and picnic area.

• Shuffle your feet when wading to warn stingrays
• Keep casts clear of swimmers, especially on weekends
• Leave the water when thunder starts
• Carry water and sun protection
• Access: level paths from the trail and park; the water starts on a sand beach

Facilities are those of a small waterfront park.

• A bayside covered picnic table
• The relocated Cape San Blas Lighthouse as a landmark
• Bay Walk Trail connections to nearby city parks
• Public restrooms and bait are not confirmed for this park; plan for both and buy bait in town

• Go at first light on a calm summer morning, before the swimmers
• Wade slowly and cast along the grass line
• Combine a trail walk with a stop at Frank Pate Park or the jetty park if the bite is slow
• Bring your own bait; buy shrimp ahead
• Polarized glasses help you spot fish and rays on the bottom

The City of Port St. Joe manages the park.

• The city's page lists fishing as one of the park's uses and posts no specific limit; read any signs for swim-area rules
• Hours are not published on the page we read, so follow posted signs
• 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