Shores at Crystal Beach Access, Destin Fishing

Shores at Crystal Beach Access is a public Gulf access on Scenic Highway 98 in Destin, with parking, restrooms and a walkover that drop you onto open surf. It is an easy, family-friendly place to cast for pompano and whiting from the sand.

• Public access with pavilion, walkover, restrooms and showers
• Open Gulf beach with bars and troughs
• Pompano run in spring, whiting nearly all year
• Busy with swimmers in summer, so fish early

The access is on Scenic Highway 98 in Destin, on the Gulf side of the highway. Fees were not confirmed, so check signs.

• Parking: a car and bicycle parking area at the access
• The walkover carries you over the dunes to the sand
• Hours: not confirmed, so check posted signs
• Other public accesses are along Scenic Highway 98, but this one has its own lot and facilities

This is open Gulf surf, so the catch follows the seasons.

• Spring (Mar-May): the main pompano run, usually peaking around April, with whiting
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, Gulf kingfish, jacks and ladyfish when the water is clean
• Fall (Sep-Nov): pompano return, with redfish and Spanish mackerel when bait is near
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting, a few pompano, and bull redfish on calm days

A 9 to 12 foot surf rod with 15 to 20 lb line handles the sand and surf here, though light spinning gear works on calm mornings.

• Pompano and whiting: two-hook pompano rig, sand fleas or peeled shrimp, fished in the trough
• Pompano jigs: small bucktails tipped with shrimp, bounced along the bottom
• Redfish: cut mullet or a whole shrimp on a fish-finder rig past the second bar
• Spanish mackerel and jacks: spoons when birds dive
• Bring a sand spike and a cooler

The northern Gulf has mostly one small high and low tide a day, so there is no need to chase a precise time.

• Moving water around the tide change fishes best
• Dawn is best; it keeps you ahead of swimmers and heat
• Clear green water after light winds is ideal
• Heavy onshore wind, red tide, and June grass or sargassum can shut the bite down
• A front followed by calm weather often turns fish on

The walkover and lot make this an easy access, but the beach has real surf.

• Check the flag colors; double red means the water is closed because of powerful rip currents
• Keep lines away from swimmers and beach games
• Shuffle your feet to avoid stingrays
• Leave the beach during thunderstorms
• Carry water and shade; the sand is deep to walk through

The visitor bureau lists the access with the following amenities.

• Pavilion and picnic area
• Beach walkover
• Restrooms and outdoor showers
• Car and bicycle parking
• No bait shop at the access that we could confirm; bring bait or buy it in Destin before you go

• Walk out at first light to claim a trough before the beach fills
• Fresh sand fleas or peeled shrimp outfish frozen bait for pompano
• Look for cuts and dark water between bars, where fish travel
• Stay within a short walk of the water and use public accesses rather than crossing private beach
• Pack out line, bait wrappers and trash
• Check the flag report on arrival

The access is listed by the Destin-Fort Walton Beach visitor bureau, and no fishing rule for this access was found, so read the posted signs.

• Okaloosa County bans shark fishing on county property; assume the same here unless signs say otherwise
• Stay clear of swimmers
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything