Naval Live Oaks Area Fishing

Naval Live Oaks Area gives shore anglers a quiet, wooded stretch of Santa Rosa Sound inside Gulf Islands National Seashore, minutes from Gulf Breeze.

• Trails lead from the picnic area down to the sound shore, which the park names as a place to fish
• Speckled trout, redfish and flounder over grass and sand
• Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish in the warm months
• Picnic pavilion, grills, restrooms and drinking water nearby
• Not one of the seashore's entrance fee areas

The area is on US 98 (Gulf Breeze Parkway) east of downtown Gulf Breeze, at the national seashore headquarters, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway.

• Getting there: from Pensacola, cross the Pensacola Bay Bridge and follow US 98 east about 4 miles from the Bayfront Parkway; parking is on both sides of the road
• Hours: the automatic gate on the south side of US 98 opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset all year
• Overnight parking is not permitted
• Entry: Naval Live Oaks is not one of the seashore's entrance fee areas
• Surface: sandy trails through the woods to the shore; the Brackenridge Nature Trail is fully accessible

The sound shore here is shallow, clear and grassy, the kind of water that holds inshore fish through most of the year.

• Spring (Mar–May): speckled trout, redfish, pompano on the sand and the first Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun–Aug): trout at dawn, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish and flounder on the sand
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and flounder at their best, a second pompano run and trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec–Feb): slow; trout and redfish on calm, sunny afternoons

A 7 foot spinning rod with 10 to 15 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader covers the fishing from the beach or a careful wade.

• Speckled trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead worked over the grass edges
• Redfish: gold spoons or cut mullet along the sand and grass line
• Flounder: a jig bounced slowly across the sand
• Pompano: small jigs or shrimp on a light bottom rig along the sandy shore
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: small spoons retrieved fast when fish are breaking

Tides on Santa Rosa Sound are small, often one high and one low a day, so moving water, wind and clarity matter most.

• Fish the moving tide, especially the rise over the grass flats
• Calm, clear mornings are best for spotting fish along the sand edges
• A strong south wind blows onto this shore and clouds the shallows
• The summer midday heat slows the bite; come early or stay late
• Wade only over bare sand and keep off the seagrass beds

It is a natural area with no concessions, so come prepared.

• Leave the shore when thunderstorms build; summer lightning is frequent
• Shuffle your feet when wading, since stingrays lie in the sand
• Pets are allowed on the trails but not on the beach or sand
• Bring water and insect repellent; there are no concessions
• The fully accessible Brackenridge Nature Trail is the easiest walk; other trails are sandy

The National Park Service lists simple day-use facilities here and no concessions.

• A covered picnic pavilion and picnic tables with charcoal grills, first come, first served
• Restrooms and drinking water near the picnic area; the only public restroom is east of the headquarters building
• Parking on both sides of US 98
• More than seven miles of trails, including the accessible Brackenridge Nature Trail
• No store or bait, so bring everything with you

• Walk the short trails from the picnic area to reach quiet, uncrowded sound shore
• Look for sand holes in the grass; trout and flounder wait in them
• The south-side gate closes at sunset, so plan your last cast
• Launch a kayak from the shore to reach more of the flats, as the park suggests
• Pack out everything, including old line; this is a protected seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore manages the area; park rules apply.

• South-side gate hours are 8 a.m. to sunset; no overnight parking
• Florida fishing regulations apply in seashore waters, and a Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Commercial fishing, including shrimping and crabbing, is prohibited in seashore waters
• Do not walk through or anchor in seagrass beds
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything