Lot 7A Beach Access, Navarre Beach Fishing

Lot 7A Beach Access puts you on the Gulf surf of Navarre Beach a short drive west of the busy pier area. It is a bare-bones county access, so you bring bait and supplies, and in return you get room to fish the trough.

• Gulf surf with a short walkover
• Pompano, whiting and redfish in season
• Parking for about twenty-five cars
• No restrooms; the pier area is a short drive east

The access is on Gulf Boulevard in Navarre Beach, roughly a mile west of the Navarre Beach pier. Santa Rosa County manages the island's beach accesses.

• Parking: a county lot of about twenty-five spaces by one listing; visitor guides call parking at the smaller accesses free, but check signs
• Walk: a dune walkover to the sand, then a carry to the water
• Facilities: a trash can only
• Stay west of the guarded swim beach at the pier and park, which is the wrong place to cast
• Nearby Lots 7B and 6A are too close to treat as separate spots

Surf fish follow the season along the Panhandle shore.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting in the trough, with Spanish mackerel and bluefish when the water clears
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, Gulf kingfish, ladyfish and jacks; redfish and sharks near dusk
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best pompano and redfish weeks, with Spanish mackerel and an occasional king mackerel
• Winter (Dec-Feb): slow, with whiting and a few pompano on calm, warm days

Surf rods and sand spikes, with baits chosen for each fish.

• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook rig with a pyramid sinker, 30 to 40 lb leader, and sand fleas or peeled shrimp
• Redfish: cut mullet, shrimp or crab on a fish-finder rig with a 4/0 circle hook
• Spanish mackerel: a small gold spoon cast and retrieved fast when birds are diving
• A 9 to 12 foot rod holds the line up over the breakers; bring a sand spike and a cart
• Sharks need the FWC shore-based shark permit and heavier gear

Tides on this coast are small, usually one gentle high and low a day, so the surf itself matters more.

• Rising water and the hour either side of high tide is a good window
• Light onshore wind and green water give the best bite
• Wait a day or two after a big blow for the water to clear
• Dawn and evening are the cool, quiet windows in summer
• Read the trough and cuts at low tide, then cast to them as the water rises

An open Gulf beach with no lifeguard at this access.

• Rip currents form near the bars; heed the posted flag colors
• Keep lines clear of swimmers and out of the guarded beach
• Get off the beach at the first thunder
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays and handle catfish by the body
• The walkover helps, but the sand carry is soft; a cart is worth bringing

Almost nothing on site, so plan ahead.

• A county lot with a dune walkover
• A trash can
• No restrooms: the nearest are at the Navarre Beach pier and park area
• Fishing tackle and live bait are at the pier's shop, to the east; buy before you go
• No lights confirmed

• Stock up on sand fleas, shrimp and ice at the pier or in town before you arrive
• Arrive early on weekends, because the lot is small
• The pier area and its guarded beach are a short drive east; keep your lines away from that swim zone
• Watch for birds working bait to find Spanish mackerel
• Pompano like the day after a southerly breeze when the water is warm and clear
• Respect marked turtle nests and shorebird areas in summer

Santa Rosa County manages the beach accesses. The county does not list fishing at this access, so read the posted signs; county commissioners have said they will not restrict fishing on the beach.

• Obey posted signs and flags, and keep lines away from swimmers
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything