Turtle Trail Beach Access Fishing

Turtle Trail Beach Access is a no-frills county access where a sandy path through the dunes leads to an unguarded stretch of the Treasure Coast.

• Pompano and whiting through the cooler months
• Sharks in the troughs for anglers with the FWC shore-based permit
• Redfish and jacks during the fall mullet run
• Paved parking and a short walk, with no lifeguards and no buildings

The access is at 8102 North A1A, Vero Beach, on the barrier island just south of the county's Seagrape Trail access.

• Parking: a paved lot with 30 spaces and 2 accessible spaces; no fee is listed
• Hours: open 7 a.m. to sunset
• Access: a sandy path through the dune vegetation to the beach; the county notes there is no ADA crossover
• No lifeguards are on duty, so swimmers are at their own risk
• Wabasso Beach Park, with restrooms and showers, is a short drive north

The troughs here hold the usual Treasure Coast surf fish, and the quiet suits patient bait fishing.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting, blacktip sharks moving along the beach, bluefish and Spanish mackerel passing north
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and croaker, snook at first light, sharpnose sharks in the evenings before the access closes
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, crevalle jacks, snook and the odd tarpon close in
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano, whiting and black drum, with bluefish on the rougher days

Set two or three rods in sand spikes and fish the troughs patiently.

• Pompano and whiting: a double-drop rig with small circle hooks and 3 to 4 oz sinkers, baited with sand fleas or clam
• Redfish and black drum: a fish-finder rig with a chunk of fresh mullet or a half blue crab
• Sharks: a heavy surf rod, a wire or heavy mono leader and circle hooks; the FWC requires a device to cut the leader and a quick release of prohibited species
• Snook: a swimbait or bucktail worked along the trough at dawn
• A cart with wide wheels makes the sandy path far easier

Two tides a day come and go on this beach.

• Fish the incoming tide, when the troughs deepen and fish move in to feed
• A modest surf is ideal for pompano; flat calm often means slow bottom fishing
• Rough, weedy seas after a blow make bait rods hard to keep in place
• Cooler months, from late fall to spring, are the peak for pompano and sharks
• Summer is best early, before heat and afternoon storms build

There are no lifeguards and no facilities, so plan the trip around that.

• Rip currents form on this beach; do not wade deep in rough surf
• Handle sharks in the water where you can, and keep bystanders clear of the hook and teeth
• Leave at the first sound of thunder in summer
• Slide your feet through the wash to warn off stingrays
• Sea turtles nest from March 1 to October 31; stay on the path and off the dunes, and fill in any holes
• The sandy path is not an ADA crossover; anglers with limited mobility will find Wabasso Beach Park easier

Turtle Trail is simply a path and a parking lot, so come supplied for the whole session.

• A paved lot with 30 spaces and 2 accessible spaces
• A sandy path through the dune vegetation to the beach
• The county lists no restrooms, showers or water here
• No lifeguards
• Buy bait, ice and water in Vero Beach or Sebastian before you come

• Weekday mornings are the quietest time to spread out several rods
• Carry out everything you carry in, including old line and bait bags
• If you target sharks, complete the FWC's shore-based shark fishing course and permit before the trip
• Watch for mullet schools in the fall and move your rods to where the bait is holding
• Pack shade and plenty of water; there is none on site

Turtle Trail is an Indian River County beach access, and the county's park rules apply.

• The county allows fishing during park hours, 7 a.m. to sunset
• County parks allow no pets, no alcohol, no open fires, no camping and no overnight parking
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit for anglers 16 and older, and chumming from the beach is prohibited
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Keeping a snook also requires a snook permit
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything