Liza Jackson Park Fishing

Liza Jackson Park is Fort Walton Beach's main waterfront park on Santa Rosa Sound, and its free fishing pier is one of the easiest places in town to wet a line on the sound.

• A free fishing pier and about 1,000 feet of waterfront
• Speckled trout, redfish and flounder on the grass edges
• Mackerel and ladyfish in summer when bait pushes up the sound
• Under renovation for about six months from mid-September 2026, with the west side closed

The park is on Miracle Strip Parkway (US 98) on the Santa Rosa Sound side of Fort Walton Beach, about 2 miles west of the Brooks Bridge.

• Getting there: follow US 98 west from downtown; the park is on the sound side
• Renovation: from the week of September 14, 2026, for about six months, the west side of the park and its west entrance, including the boat launch area, are closed to the public for construction; the east side, with the dog parks, stays open
• Entry: free
• Hours: sunrise to 9 p.m.; outside the renovation the city lists the boat ramp as open at all hours
• Surface: level paths and pier, easy with a cart

The grass flats of the sound keep inshore fish close all year.

• Spring (Mar–May): speckled trout, sheepshead on structure, redfish and the first Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun–Aug): trout at dawn, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish, flounder on the sand
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and flounder at their best, trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec–Feb): white trout and sheepshead; trout on warm afternoons

Light spinning tackle with 10 to 15 lb braid is ideal.

• Speckled trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a light jighead
• Redfish: gold spoons or cut bait along the grass edges
• Flounder: finger mullet or a jig worked slowly over the sand
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: small spoons retrieved fast
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on the pier pilings

Tides on Santa Rosa Sound are small and often one a day, so the direction of the current matters more than the height.

• The incoming tide brings cleaner water and bait up the sound
• Early morning and evening are best in summer
• A strong wind makes the sound choppy; calm mornings are ideal
• Winter fish feed in the warmest part of the afternoon
• Heavy rain can stain the water for a day or two

The park is flat and family-friendly, but part of it is a construction site for about six months from mid-September 2026.

• Level pier and paths; parking and restrooms may be limited while the renovation runs
• Stay out of the fenced west side and keep children away from construction traffic
• Leave the pier when thunderstorms build
• The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County issued water-quality advisories here several times in 2026 for high bacteria levels; avoid wading while one is in force, and wash your hands after fishing
• Bring water and sun protection

The city lists a good set of facilities, though the renovation affects some of them for now.

• A fishing pier, pavilions, picnic tables, benches and a playground
• Public restrooms; a new restroom building is part of the renovation
• A boat ramp on the closed west side, due back with new trailer parking and a redesigned launch area
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you
• Bring your own ice and shade; there is no concession in the park

• Check the city's news page for the renovation before you go; the west entrance is closed
• Fish the incoming tide, when cleaner water floods up the sound
• Summer dawn is prime for trout and mackerel
• The grass edges either side of the pier hold more fish than open sand
• Evenings are pleasant here, with sunsets over the sound until the 9 p.m. closing
• Pack out line and bait scraps

The City of Fort Walton Beach manages the park; posted park rules apply.

• Park hours are sunrise to 9 p.m.
• Obey construction fencing and closure signs while the renovation runs
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Keep the boat ramp and launch lanes clear once they reopen, and take old line and hooks home
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything