Spyglass Beachfront Park Fishing

Spyglass Beachfront Park trades convenience for a climb: a tiny county lot and a long, high dune walkover lead down to a broad beach at the southern end of the county's South Beaches, not far above Matanzas Inlet.

• The county's tallest dune boardwalk, with 76 steps
• Whiting, pompano, bluefish, redfish and black drum in the surf
• Walk on from the lot, or drive on with a county pass
• Only 23 parking spaces, with no ADA spaces listed
• Open 7 a.m. to dark

The park is at 8202 A1A South, south of Crescent Beach and about 2 miles north of Matanzas Inlet, in unincorporated St. Johns County.

• Parking: 23 spaces and no ADA spaces, according to the county's beach access guide
• The walk: a wooden boardwalk of about 267 feet with 76 steps over the dunes, with benches halfway
• Hours: 7 a.m. to dark
• Driving: this beach lies on the county's two-way driving stretch between the Crescent Beach ramp to the north and the exit-only Fort Matanzas ramp to the south, which reopened in September 2026 after a rebuild; a driving pass is needed from March 1 through September 30

An open beach near an inlet, so the usual surf species plus a few that drift up from the inlet.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting peak, with bluefish and Spanish mackerel moving north
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and croaker early and late, Spanish mackerel over bait, flounder in the holes
• Fall (Sep-Nov): bluefish, redfish and crevalle jacks on the mullet run, flounder heading for the inlet, and a few tarpon outside the bar
• Winter (Dec-Feb): redfish and black drum on crab or clam, whiting on the calmer days

Whatever you bring has to go up and down 76 steps, so travel light if you walk on.

• One 10 to 11 ft surf rod with a two-hook dropper rig, #1 to 1/0 hooks and a 3 to 4 oz pyramid sinker
• Shrimp, clam or sand fleas for whiting and pompano
• A fish-finder rig with a circle hook and cut mullet or crab for redfish and black drum
• A short spinning rod and a few spoons for bluefish and Spanish mackerel
• If you drive on with a pass, a sand spike and a second bait rod make sense; still no shark rigs or chum

Two highs and two lows a day. NOAA's nearest open-coast prediction station, at St. Augustine Beach about 9 miles north, averages about 4 1/2 feet of range, reaching roughly 6 1/2 feet on spring tides.

• Fish the flood; whiting and pompano move into the trough as it fills
• If you drive on, the county warns that tides, weather and soft sand can close the ramps or limit them to four-wheel drive
• Toward the inlet, a falling tide pulls bait out of the river mouth, which can draw bluefish and mackerel along the beach
• A northeast blow brings big surf; wait for it to ease
• In summer, fish early

The climb is the first hazard; after that it is surf, weather and traffic on the sand.

• 76 steps each way: not suited to wheelchairs, carts or anyone who cannot manage stairs
• Vehicles use this beach: stay out of the coned driving lane and keep gear on the ocean side of the cones
• The county lists no lifeguard tower here
• Rip currents: do not wade deep, especially in a big swell
• Leave at the first thunder, and shuffle your feet for stingrays

Facilities are thin, and the county's two listings disagree.

• The county parks page lists restrooms, outdoor showers and parking
• The county's beach access guide lists only benches midway along the boardwalk, trash and recycling bins and a bike rack, so do not count on restrooms or showers
• A 23-space lot, with no ADA spaces listed
• No bait, tackle, food or water: bring it all
• Crescent Beachfront Park, a few miles north, lists restrooms and showers if you need them

• Arrive early; 23 spaces go quickly on good beach days
• Carry a backpack rather than a cart down the boardwalk
• If you fish often from March to September, a county driving pass lets you park on the sand instead
• Walk south toward the inlet on a falling tide in fall for flounder and blues
• County beach rules list flashlights at night among things not permitted, and the lot opens at 7 a.m., so plan a daylight session
• Items left on the beach overnight are removed; take everything back up the steps

St. Johns County runs the access, and its Beach Code (Ordinance 2007-19) applies on the sand.

• No intentional fishing for sharks, and no chumming or blood baiting, on the beach or within 600 feet of shore
• Stop fishing if a deputy or county lifeguard warns that swimmers are in danger
• Beach driving: pass required March 1 to September 30, 10 mph limit, pedestrians have the right of way; county gates close at 7:30 p.m. from May 1 to October 31
• No alcohol, glass, smoking, fires or camping; leashed dogs only
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless exempt; check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything