Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access Fishing

Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access is the big public beach at the western end of South Walton.

• Walton County lists fishing among the uses of the beach here
• More than 200 parking spaces on both sides of Scenic Gulf Drive
• Restrooms, showers, a water fountain and three beach accesses, one ADA accessible
• Pompano, Gulf whiting and redfish in the surf; Spanish mackerel and bluefish in season

The access is at 2375 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach, on the stretch of road the county calls Scenic 98.

• Getting there: follow Scenic Gulf Drive, which runs along the beach south of US 98, to the access
• Parking: more than 200 spaces in lots on both the north and south sides of the road, including ADA parking
• Entry: free
• Hours: dawn to dusk
• The walk: three beach accesses cross the dunes, one of them ADA accessible, then soft sand to the water
• Beach wheelchairs are available

This is classic Emerald Coast surf, with spring and fall the best seasons.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and Gulf whiting in the troughs, Spanish mackerel and bluefish on bait schools, and cobia cruising past the bar
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel and ladyfish at first light, whiting in the trough, jacks on the bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): pompano back in the troughs, bull redfish on the bar with the mullet run, mackerel on the bait
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting and the odd pompano on calm, clear days

A 9 to 11 foot surf rod and a lighter spinning rod cover this beach.

• Pompano and whiting: a double-drop rig with size 1 to 1/0 hooks, sand fleas or peeled shrimp, and a 2 to 3 oz pyramid sinker
• Rake sand fleas at the water's edge for fresh bait
• Redfish: cut mullet on a fish-finder rig cast to the bar
• Spanish mackerel and bluefish: silver spoons and gotcha plugs retrieved fast when fish break
• Pompano jigs worked slowly through the trough
• Use a sand spike and keep lines tight so they never drift toward swimmers

Tides are small on this coast and usually come once a day, so water clarity and surf matter more than tide height.

• Clean green water and a light surf are ideal
• A moving tide stirs the troughs and brings bait along the beach
• Dawn is the best, and quietest, time in summer
• After a strong south blow, give the water a day or two to clear
• Spring pompano arrive as the Gulf warms toward the 70s °F

This is one of the best-equipped beach accesses in Walton County.

• Lifeguards from March through October and a beach conditions flag: obey the flags and lifeguard instructions, and never cast near swimmers
• Rip currents are common along this coast; never wade deep in rough surf
• Shuffle your feet in the troughs for stingrays
• Leave the beach at the first sign of lightning
• ADA boardwalk, parking and restrooms, and beach wheelchairs, make the beach reachable for most anglers

Walton County and the tourism office list a full set of beach facilities.

• Restrooms, including ADA-accessible restrooms, and showers
• A water fountain
• More than 200 parking spaces, with ADA spaces
• Three beach accesses, one with an ADA-accessible boardwalk, and beach wheelchairs
• A beach conditions flag and seasonal lifeguards
• No bait or tackle is listed at the access, so bring what you need

• Arrive early: summer days are busy, and the fishing is best early
• Walk away from the accesses and the lifeguard stand to find room to fish
• Look for the darker trough water and fish its near edge
• Take all gear off the beach before dark: the county does not allow personal property on the beach from an hour after sunset to an hour after sunrise
• Glass is banned on Walton County beaches, so pack drinks in cans or plastic
• Sea turtles nest along this coast in summer: fill holes and leave nothing behind

The access is owned and run by the Walton County Tourist Development Council, and the county's Waterways and Beach Activities Ordinance applies.

• Open dawn to dusk; follow lifeguard instructions and posted beach rules
• It is unlawful to keep fishing in the Gulf after a law enforcement officer warns that bathers are at risk
• The same ordinance makes it unlawful to intentionally fish for sharks, or to chum or bloodbait, from the beach or within 2,500 feet of shore
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything