Grayton Beach State Park Fishing

Grayton Beach State Park consistently ranks among the most beautiful beaches in the country: about a mile of natural shore with high dunes and no buildings behind it. The park lists surf fishing and fishing on Western Lake among its activities.

• Long, natural Gulf beach backed by high dunes
• Pompano, whiting and redfish in the surf; mackerel along the bars in season
• Western Lake, a coastal dune lake, occasionally opens to the Gulf and concentrates fish at its outfall
• State park rules keep the beach clean

The park is off County Road 30A between Grayton Beach and Seagrove in South Walton, west of Seaside.

• Getting there: from US 98 take CR 283 south to CR 30A, then east to the park entrance
• Entry: $5 per vehicle when checked in 2026 ($4 single occupant, $2 on foot or by bike), paid at the gate or online
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, every day of the year
• Capacity: in busy periods the park often fills and closes to day visitors, walkers and cyclists included, for several hours at a time; arrive early
• Parking: day-use lots near the beach boardwalks
• The walk: short boardwalks over the dunes, then soft sand to the water

Classic Panhandle surf species with inshore fish around the lake outfall.

• Spring (Mar–May): pompano peak, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on the bars, redfish in the troughs
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Gulf whiting, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel in the first hours after the 8 a.m. opening; rays through the day
• Fall (Sep–Nov): second pompano run, bull redfish with the mullet run, big bluefish
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Gulf whiting and redfish on calm days; speckled trout and reds around the lake outfall when it is open

Surf fishing here is straightforward: two rods, sand spikes and fresh bait.

• Pompano and whiting: a double-drop rig with 1/0–2/0 circle hooks, 2–4 oz pyramid sinker, sand fleas or fresh shrimp
• Bring your sand fleas or shrimp with you; there is no bait shop in the park
• 9–11 ft surf rods to reach the first and second troughs; 15–20 lb line
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: gotcha plugs or spoons when bait schools show
• Redfish: cut mullet or crab on a fish-finder rig
• Western Lake outfall: live shrimp or soft plastics on the moving water

Tides are small and often once a day; surf and water color do most of the talking.

• A little wave action and a light onshore breeze bring pompano into the first trough
• Rising tides are usually best in the surf
• Flat, glassy water is beautiful but slow; fish the first and last hours of the park's day
• When Western Lake is flowing into the Gulf, the outfall on a falling tide is worth a look
• Rough south-wind days make fishing hard and swimming dangerous

This is an open Gulf beach with no pier, structure or lifeguards, so safety is about the surf, the sun and the weather.

• Rip currents are a real hazard on South Walton beaches; watch the beach flags and never wade deep in rough surf
• Shuffle your feet to avoid stingrays
• Leave the beach at the first thunder in summer
• Little shade on the sand; bring water and sun protection
• Boardwalks and a Mobi-Mat reach the day-use beach, and the park has a beach wheelchair if you call ahead; the sand itself is soft and hard going with a cart

Grayton Beach State Park is a full-service state park, though nothing in it is aimed at anglers.

• Restrooms and three picnic pavilions at the beach day-use area
• A water bottle refill station at the trailhead
• A boat ramp for small craft on Western Lake, a 100-acre coastal dune lake, with canoe and kayak rentals at the ranger station
• Trails through the dunes and pine flatwoods, plus cabins and a campground for overnight stays
• No bait shop in the park; buy bait and ice before you arrive

• Arrive at opening in summer; the park can fill and close to day visitors, and the best light for mackerel is early
• Walk away from the main boardwalk to find empty troughs
• Check whether Western Lake is flowing to the Gulf; the outfall can be red-hot
• Bring fresh sand fleas or shrimp; they beat frozen bait for pompano
• Fall mornings after a cool front are prime for pompano and reds
• Stay off the dunes and out of fenced nesting areas

Grayton Beach State Park is managed by the Florida Park Service.

• Surf fishing and fishing on Western Lake are allowed with the proper license, and all fishing must follow state rules on size, number, method of capture and season
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Walton County's beach ordinance, which covers the park's beach and Western Lake, makes it unlawful to intentionally fish for sharks, or to chum or bloodbait, from the beach or the water near shore
• State park rules protect animal life other than food and game fish, so bring bait rather than collecting it in the park
• No pets on the beach; stay off the dunes and out of posted wildlife areas
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything