Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access Fishing

Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access is a compact county access built in 2022 on the Miramar Beach shoreline, with an ADA boardwalk down to the surf.

• About 400 feet of beach, with fishing named among its uses by local guide SoWal
• Restrooms, a water fountain, a picnic pavilion and a large deck plaza
• Pompano, Gulf whiting and redfish on bait, mackerel and bluefish on lures
• Only 18 car spaces, so timing matters

The access is at 907 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach, on the Gulf side of the road, which runs along the shore south of U.S. 98.

• Parking: 18 car spaces (the TDC lists ADA parking), nine golf cart spaces and bike parking; no fee is listed
• The walk: an ADA boardwalk zigzags across the dunes to the sand, and a second walkover leads down from a covered pavilion
• Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access, about a mile and a half west, has a far larger lot
• Overnight parking is not allowed in county beach access lots

Miramar Beach's surf follows the same seasons as the rest of the Emerald Coast, with spring and fall ahead of the rest.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and Gulf whiting in the inner trough; Spanish mackerel and bluefish chasing bait, and an occasional cobia along the bar
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mackerel and ladyfish at daybreak, whiting in the trough, reds and jacks in the evening
• Fall (Sep-Nov): pompano come back through, and big reds follow the mullet along the bar
• Winter (Dec-Feb): a few whiting and pompano when the water is calm and clear

A long rod for bait and a lighter one for lures keeps you ready for both kinds of fish.

• On the bottom: a pompano rig with two size 1 to 1/0 hooks and enough pyramid weight to hold, usually 2 to 3 oz, with sand fleas or peeled shrimp
• Gather sand fleas by hand where the waves wash back, and fill in your holes
• For reds: cut mullet on a sliding-sinker rig cast beyond the bar
• For mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish: spoons and small jigs, retrieved fast
• Try a small pompano jig dragged through the trough when bait fishing is slow
• Keep lines well clear of swimmers and the lifeguard's area

Like the rest of this coast, Miramar Beach has a small tide, commonly one high and one low a day, so read the surf rather than the tide times.

• Clean, green water and a small surf are ideal for pompano and whiting
• Fish while the tide is moving; the trough goes quiet at slack
• Early morning and evening fish best in summer
• After a strong south wind, the water often needs a day or two to clear
• Fronts in spring and fall bring the best runs

Miramar Beach is busy in summer, but the access itself is easy, with an ADA boardwalk, ADA parking and ADA restrooms.

• The TDC lists seasonal lifeguards for this access; follow their instructions and keep lines away from swimmers
• Check the beach conditions flag; double red closes the water
• Rip currents form along this coast; do not wade deep when the surf is rough
• Shuffle through the trough for stingrays
• Leave the beach when lightning is near

Visit South Walton and SoWal list these facilities.

• Restrooms, including ADA restrooms, and a water fountain
• A picnic pavilion with its own dune walkover, and a large deck plaza
• 18 car spaces, nine golf cart spaces and bike parking
• An ADA boardwalk and dune walkover
• A beach conditions flag and seasonal lifeguards
• No bait or tackle is listed, so bring bait, ice and water

• With only 18 car spaces, arrive at dawn or come by bike or golf cart
• Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access to the west is the fallback when this lot is full
• Walk along the sand from the boardwalk to find an empty trough away from the swimmers
• Glass is banned on Walton County beaches
• County rules do not allow personal property on the beach from an hour after sunset to an hour after sunrise
• Pitch rods and coolers so the wet sand stays passable, as the county's beach rules require

This is a Walton County regional beach access, under the county's Waterways and Beach Activities Ordinance as amended by Ordinance 2025-22.

• The ordinance makes it unlawful to intentionally fish for sharks, or to chum or bloodbait, while on the beach or within 2,500 feet of shore
• If a law enforcement officer warns that bathers are at risk, fishing in the Gulf must stop
• Metal shovels are banned and holes must be filled
• Animals are not allowed on the beach, except service animals and permitted residents' leashed dogs at set hours
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything