U.S. 331 Causeway, Santa Rosa Beach Fishing

The U.S. 331 Causeway is the old locals' bank fishing along the highway across Choctawhatchee Bay, reopened for anglers by arrangement between FDOT and Walton County. It is a rough, no-frills spot where current runs hard around the relief bridge.

• Roadside fishing on the east and west sides of the northern end of the southbound causeway
• Redfish, trout, flounder and sheepshead, with mackerel and jacks in summer
• Signed parking areas, not the highway shoulder
• Fast traffic: not a spot for small children

The causeway is on U.S. 331 in Santa Rosa Beach, running out over the south part of Choctawhatchee Bay. FDOT owns the road; Walton County holds a maintenance agreement for the portions near the relief bridge.

• The reopened fishing areas are along the northern end of the southbound causeway, on the east and west sides
• Signs show the legal parking areas; do not park anywhere else along the road
• Sign layout may have changed since the reopening, so read the posted signs on arrival
• Thomas Pilcher Park, under the bridge on the south shore, has its own pier, restrooms and parking if the causeway is full
• Surface: rock and rough shoulder, with no deck or rail

Bay species move through the bridge opening with the tide.

• Spring (Mar-May): speckled trout, flounder and redfish along the rocks, with sheepshead still around
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel and jacks on moving water, trout early and late
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and flounder as the bay cools, bull-sized reds near the bridge on strong tides
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on shrimp or crab, with trout on mild days

The water is brackish, so a heavy rain or river rise pushes the catch toward the bay's saltier side.

Bring a rod you can cast far from a rocky edge and a long-handled net or a way to land fish, since the water is low and the footing awkward.

• Trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or soft plastics on a quarter-ounce jig head
• Redfish: cut mullet or live shrimp on the bottom near the rocks, 15 to 20 lb leader
• Flounder: a jig or live minnow bounced slowly along the edge
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small 1/0 hook near any structure
• Mackerel: small spoons or a Gotcha plug in summer

Bay tides here are small but the bridge opening speeds the flow.

• The Choctawhatchee Bay and Pass area has about one small high and low on most days
• Moving water, either direction, fishes best; slack tide is slow
• Fish at first light or at dusk in summer
• A light wind keeps the water clearer; strong west wind muddies the bank
• After heavy rain, expect fresher, stained water and slower fishing

This is a highway shoulder, not a park.

• Traffic is fast and close; keep your gear and children away from the travel lanes
• Cross the road only where it is safe and never walk on the bridge deck itself
• Footing on the rock is uneven and slick when wet
• Lightning is common on summer afternoons, and there is no shelter
• Access is a scramble over rock, not wheelchair accessible

The causeway itself has no facilities that we could confirm.

• Signed roadside parking only
• No restrooms, tables or lights on the causeway
• Thomas Pilcher Park under the bridge has restrooms, pavilions and a fishing pier
• Bait and tackle are available from shops in Freeport and Santa Rosa Beach; call ahead for hours
• Bring water, sun protection and a headlamp for early starts

• Park only in the signed areas; the old no parking signs came down only in those places
• Try the Pilcher Park pier on windy days when the rocks are rough
• A long cast to the bridge pilings often beats fishing the edge at your feet
• Check the bay report from a Freeport tackle shop before you drive out
• Use a long-handled landing net; the drop to the water is awkward
• Watch the traffic when you get out of the car

FDOT manages the highway and Walton County maintains parts of the causeway under an agreement.

• Fishing is allowed only in the areas FDOT reopened; follow any posted signs and parking limits
• Do not park or fish from the travel lanes or the new bridge
• Walton County restricts shark fishing and chumming in many waters south of Highway 20; check the county ordinance and do not fish for sharks here
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything