GTM Research Reserve Beach Fishing

GTM Research Reserve Beach belongs to a national estuarine research reserve rather than a town, and its annual parking passes help fund the reserve's research, education and stewardship. The result is a natural beach with dune walkovers and no lifeguards.

• Surf for whiting, pompano, bluefish and redfish
• Three reserve beach lots on A1A, called North, Middle and South
• Open 8 a.m. to sunset
• The Guana River Dam fishing area is a few miles south, for a two-stop day

The reserve's beach lots sit along A1A (Ponte Vedra Boulevard) north of the Guana River Road turn; the beach is on the other side of the highway.

• Paying: scan the lot's QR code or text the lot number; the reserve lists $3 per vehicle for up to eight people plus tax, and $1 on foot or by bike
• Passes: a $50 annual GTM parking pass (plus tax and fees) also covers the dam and the trails
• Hours: the lots open at 8 a.m. and close at sunset
• Getting to the sand: cross A1A at the crosswalk, then take the walkover over the dunes
• This south lot: St. Johns County's beach guide lists 94 spaces and a wooden ADA boardwalk of about 180 feet with a viewing platform, ending in soft sand some 30 feet short of the firm beach
• The middle and north lots have longer climbs, with steps over the dunes

The fish here are the classic northeast Florida surf mix, and timing is everything.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and bluefish on the move, steady whiting, black drum and reds on calmer days
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel and jacks busting bait, whiting in the mornings, flounder lying in the cuts
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the peak, as the mullet run draws redfish, bluefish and jacks, with pompano on cooler days
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting and black drum when the surf lies down, and an occasional pompano in mild spells

Everything goes across A1A and over the dunes on foot, so travel light.

• Take one 10 foot rod for bottom fishing and one lighter rod for lures
• Bottom: a two-dropper rig with a 2 to 4 oz sputnik sinker and small circle hooks, baited with sand fleas or fresh shrimp
• Reds and drum: a single circle hook on a fish-finder slide with cut mullet or crab
• Lures: a 1 to 2 oz spoon for blues and mackerel when birds are working bait
• A sand spike and a small cart save extra trips back to the car
• No wire-leader shark rigs or chum: county rules ban shark fishing here

The reserve's beach follows the Atlantic's two high and two low tides a day, with a range of several feet.

• The lots open at 8 a.m., so pick days when the flood falls in the morning
• High water pushes fish into the first trough, close to the sand
• Northeast wind makes the beach rough and weedy; a west wind flattens it
• Clean, calm water suits pompano; a slight chop with some color suits whiting
• The sunset closing means evening sessions end at dusk

The reserve keeps this beach natural, so safety is up to you.

• No lifeguards are posted
• A1A traffic is fast where you cross from the lots; use the crosswalks
• Rip currents run out through the cuts in the bar
• There is no shade and no shelter from summer storms
• Stingrays rest in the wash, so shuffle as you wade
• For wheelchair users, the south lot is the accessible choice, according to the reserve, though its boardwalk ends in soft sand

Facilities at the beach lots are minimal.

• Paid lots with dune walkovers; the south lot's boardwalk has a viewing platform
• No lifeguards
• No restrooms, bait or food are listed at the beach lots
• Guana Outpost South at the dam sells bait and tackle, so check its hours before relying on it
• The reserve's visitor center, with aquariums and exhibits, is on Guana River Road and opens Tuesday to Saturday
• Pack out everything you bring in

• Buy bait before you arrive; none is listed at the lots
• Start at the Guana River Dam, which opens far earlier, then move to the beach when the lots open at 8 a.m.
• Walk a little way along the beach from the walkover to find an empty trough
• Fall is the best season here, as on the rest of this coast
• If you fish the reserve's beach and dam regularly, the annual pass is good value

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection runs the reserve, and St. Johns County's beach code applies on the sand.

• Lots are open 8 a.m. to sunset; pay the parking fee before you walk over
• Stay on the walkovers, because the dunes are protected
• The county beach code bans fishing for sharks, and chumming or blood baiting, from the beach and the water close to shore
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is needed unless you qualify for an exemption
• Look up the FWC's current size, bag and season limits on myfwc.com before keeping fish