Indian Pass Fishing

Indian Pass is the wild end of the Forgotten Coast: a short, deep pass between the mainland beach and the St. Vincent Island refuge, with tide rips that bring fish from the Gulf and Apalachicola Bay together. Gulf County's tourist office says speckled trout, redfish, flounder and pompano are an easy catch here for the beach angler.

• Strong current and deep water close to the beach
• Redfish, trout, flounder, pompano and black drum most of the year
• Mackerel, sharks and tarpon passing in summer
• Free parking at the public boat ramp

The pass is at the east end of Indian Pass Road, about eight miles from Port St. Joe.

• Getting there: from Port St. Joe take County Road 30A toward Apalachicola, then follow Indian Pass Road to its end at the pass
• Parking: free at the Indian Pass boat ramp; the public can use the beach right at the ramp
• Entry: free
• Surface: sand from the parking area to the water's edge
• Beach driving on the Indian Pass beaches needs a permit from the Gulf County Tax Collector

The pass fishes all year because the current keeps bait moving.

• Spring (Mar–May): pompano and redfish, Spanish mackerel arriving, cobia passing the beaches
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish on the tide, trout at dawn, blacktip and bull sharks, tarpon rolling in the pass
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the best season: bull redfish, flounder moving out and pompano back
• Winter (Dec–Feb): redfish, black drum and sheepshead; trout on warm days

Current here demands heavier tackle than the bays.

• Redfish and black drum: a fish-finder rig with 2 to 4 oz of weight and cut mullet or blue crab
• Trout and reds: a 1/2 oz jig with a soft plastic swept along the current seam
• Pompano: jigs or sand fleas on a double-drop rig on the Gulf side of the pass
• Flounder: finger mullet dragged slowly along the edge of the channel
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: spoons when fish break on the tide

Tides here are small, usually under 2 feet, and NOAA's Indian Pass station shows only one high and one low on many days, but the pass concentrates every bit of flow.

• The hour either side of the turn of the tide is the easiest time to fish
• Peak current can be too strong to hold bottom; fish the edges then
• The outgoing tide carries bait and fish from the bays behind St. Vincent
• Calm days with clean water are best; a strong south wind makes the pass rough
• Early mornings are best in summer

The pass is beautiful but serious water.

• Currents are strong and the drop-off steep; do not wade out or swim in the pass
• Boats run in and out of the ramp and through the pass; keep casts clear
• Leave the beach at the first sign of lightning; there is no shelter
• Gulf County has no lifeguards on its beaches
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays
• Soft sand from the parking area; not suited to wheelchairs

Services are minimal.

• A free public boat ramp and free parking
• Restrooms at the ramp: Visit Gulf County lists them, and the FWC's ramp inventory lists a flush toilet that is not wheelchair accessible
• The FWC inventory also lists lighting at the ramp; no bait or tackle is sold there
• Bring everything you need, including water, ice, shade and spare weights; the pass is a long way from town

• Plan around the tide: arrive an hour before the turn
• Bring more weight than you think you need
• Watch for birds working the rip on the outgoing tide
• St. Vincent Island across the pass is a national wildlife refuge, reached only by boat
• Summer tarpon roll through at dawn; check FWC rules before targeting them
• Take all trash home

The boat ramp and beach are public; St. Vincent Island across the pass is a national wildlife refuge with its own rules.

• Beach driving is allowed only with a permit
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Tarpon must be handled according to FWC rules
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything