Michigan Street Beach Access, Navarre Beach Fishing

Michigan Street Beach Access is one of the public access points Santa Rosa County keeps on the west side of Navarre Beach, with its own parking area and a walkover the county flags as handicap accessible. It opens onto the same Gulf surf that runs past the pier, about two miles to the east.

• A county parking area where Michigan Street meets Gulf Boulevard
• Walkover 37C, with broad landings on the way down to the sand
• Pompano and Gulf whiting in spring and fall, redfish in autumn
• Mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish when summer bait is in
• No lifeguard station at this end of the beach

The access is on Gulf Boulevard in Navarre Beach, about two and a half miles west of the Navarre Beach Causeway.

• Getting there: from US 98 in Navarre, cross the causeway to the beach, turn west on Gulf Boulevard and drive to the Michigan Street intersection
• Parking: a county parking area at the Michigan Street intersection; the state beach access inventory lists about three dozen spaces
• The walk: the walkover climbs over the dunes from the parking area and drops to the beach, then soft sand runs down to the water
• No overnight parking and no camping on the beach
• Arrive early on summer weekends, when beach visitors use the same lot

The Navarre Beach surf carries the classic Emerald Coast lineup, peaking in spring and again in autumn.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano work the troughs as the water warms, alongside Gulf whiting and early bluefish
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and blue runners chase bait; catfish and small sharks pick up cut bait late in the day
• Fall (Sep-Nov): pompano return, bluefish school up and big redfish travel the beach
• Winter (Dec-Feb): Gulf whiting and black drum bite on shrimp in calm weather

Staked bait rods are the local habit on Navarre's Gulf beaches, with a casting rod ready for surface schools.

• Surf rods of 10 to 12 feet, 15- to 20-lb line, and a pompano rig with two size 1 hooks and a 3-oz sinker
• Sand fleas raked where the waves wash back, fresh shrimp, or scented synthetic baits
• A fish-finder rig with a 5/0 circle hook and cut mullet for fall redfish, cast to the far edge of the trough
• Silver spoons and small jigs for Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish; add a short leader for the blues
• Keep baits small and fresh for whiting; they bite best close in

Navarre Beach sees small Gulf tides. NOAA's Navarre Beach station predicts one high and one low on most days, with a range of up to about 2 feet.

• The first hours after sunrise are the prime time in summer, before the sea breeze and the crowds build
• Pompano like a modest surf with some wave action and clear water
• Cooling water in fall pushes redfish and bluefish along the beach
• After a south blow, the surf stays rough and cloudy for a day or two
• The county posts current surf conditions and flag status online each day; check it before you go

This end of Navarre Beach is unguarded, so anglers need to watch the water themselves.

• The county's lifeguard stations are near the pier, about two miles east, not at this walkover
• Heed the flags: purple warns of dangerous marine life, and double red closes the water
• Never wade out deep to cast; rip currents form along this shore
• Leave the beach at the first sign of a summer thunderstorm
• Shuffle your feet in the shallows to avoid stingrays
• The county flags walkover 37C as handicap accessible, but the beach below it is soft sand, so a beach wheelchair or a wide-wheeled cart helps

The access is parking and a walkover, with no other services.

• A county parking area at Michigan Street
• Dune walkover 37C, listed by the county as handicap accessible
• No restrooms or showers listed for this access
• No bait or food on site; the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier area to the east has the nearest services
• Bring water, shade and a trash bag

• Use the walkover number, 37C, to describe your location if you ever need to call 911
• Rake your own sand fleas at the swash line; they are the top pompano bait on this beach
• In spring and fall, walk a little east or west along the beach to find a trough with some color and wave action
• Leave nothing on the sand overnight; the county removes unattended belongings under its leave-no-trace rule
• Keep your lines well away from swimmers; from March to October the county may post bathing areas where hook fishing is banned

The access and beach are managed by Santa Rosa County, whose Navarre Beach rules apply.

• From March 1 to October 31 the county may ban fishing with a hook, spear or barb inside designated public bathing areas, marked by signs
• No glass, no fires and no pets on the beach; no overnight parking or camping
• Personal items may not be left on the beach overnight
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; shore-based shark fishing also needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything