Okaloosa Day Use Area Fishing

Okaloosa Day Use Area gives shore anglers a quiet, managed stretch of Choctawhatchee Bay beach on Okaloosa Island, with clear water and grass flats close in.

• Sandy bay shoreline run by the National Park Service
• Speckled trout, redfish and flounder on the flats and sand edges
• Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish on bait in the warm months
• Restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables and a small-craft launch
• An entrance fee, but far calmer water than the Gulf side

The area is on the bay side of US 98 on Okaloosa Island, between Fort Walton Beach and Destin.

• Getting there: from Destin, follow US 98 west onto Okaloosa Island for about 3.5 miles; the area is on the right
• Entry: a national seashore entrance fee applies, $25 per vehicle or $15 per person on foot or bike, good for one to seven days; there is no entrance station, so pay at the collection box near the boat ramp or online; interagency passes are accepted
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset all year; no overnight parking
• Parking: designated spaces only
• Surface: a short walk on sand to the water

Close to shore the bay is clear, shallow and grassy, with sandy edges where fish cruise and feed.

• Spring (Mar–May): speckled trout and redfish, pompano over the sand, and the season's first Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun–Aug): early-morning trout; Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish; flounder lying on the sand
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the prime months for redfish and flounder, pompano running a second time, and trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec–Feb): quiet, with trout and redfish on warm, calm afternoons

For wading and casting from the beach, a 7 foot spinning rod, 10 to 15 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader are just right.

• Speckled trout: fish a live shrimp under a popping cork, or work a soft plastic on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead along the grass edges
• Redfish: cast a gold spoon or soak cut mullet where the sand meets the grass
• Flounder: hop a jig slowly over the sand, or use finger mullet
• Pompano: shrimp or small jigs on a light bottom rig at the sand edges
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: burn a small spoon back fast

The bay has small tides, and many days see only one high and one low, so wind and water clarity count for as much as the tide.

• Moving water fishes best, above all a rising tide over the flats
• Sight-fishing the sand edges is easiest on calm, clear mornings
• This shore faces northeast across the bay, so a hard north or east wind blows straight in and muddies the shallows
• Midday summer heat puts the fish off; fish early or late
• Keep off the seagrass beds and wade over bare sand only

The bay side is calm most days, but the usual shore hazards still apply.

• Summer lightning is frequent; get off the beach as thunderstorms build
• Stingrays lie buried in the sand, so shuffle as you wade
• Watch for kite surfers from April through September and small boats at the launch
• Bring water and sun protection; there is little shade
• The restroom is open only during operating hours

The National Park Service lists basic day-use facilities and no concessions, so plan to bring everything you need.

• Restrooms, open during operating hours only
• Outdoor showers for rinsing off sand and salt
• Parking and picnic tables
• A small-craft launch onto Choctawhatchee Bay for kayaks, canoes and paddleboards; trailer launching is not recommended
• No store or food, so bring bait, water and supplies
• Pets are not allowed in this area

• Arrive at the 8 a.m. opening on summer days, before the wind and heat build
• Trout and flounder wait in the sandy holes among the grass, so look for them
• A popping cork over the grass edge is the most reliable trout setup
• The entrance pass is good for one to seven days at the seashore's fee areas
• Pack out everything; there are no stores on site

The area is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the park's rules apply.

• Hours are 8 a.m. to sunset, and overnight parking is not allowed
• Shoreline fishing here requires a Florida fishing license
• In seashore waters, commercial fishing, shrimping and crabbing included, is prohibited
• Pets are not allowed in this area
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything