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This article is not intended to give away any local secrets that would have me fed to the Sharks but instead as a tourist's guide to help you save some time and net some fun and possibly dinner. There are plenty of social media sites full of information sharing (and bragging) about area fishing if you want to go deeper on the subject. So, with that in mind here are a few hot spots to consider.
Apalachicola Bay
St. George Fishing Pier
You have two options for access to this fishing hotspot. The old St. George Island bridge was repurposed into two fishing piers, one on the Eastpoint side of the bay and one on the St. George Island side of the bay. The middle section was removed after the completion of the new bridge. There is simply no fish in our coastal waters that cannot be caught from this bridge. Bring some shade and plenty of bait.
Sikes Cut
This manmade channel connecting Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico was taken over by Mother Nature as a migration corridor for many species of fish. This is a catch and release hotspot with Tarpon and over slot sized Redfish frequenting this area.
St Joe Bay
Jetty Park
There is always something to catch at Jetty Park next to the St. Joe Marina. On the menu is Flounder, Trout, Spanish Mackerel and Redfish just to name a few.
Gulf of Mexico
Any beach with clear water in the spring and fall can net you a nice dinner of Pompano. Redfish and Whiting are always a possible catch as well. Pompano's preferred food is sand fleas and shrimp which you can buy locally at just about any bait shop. St Joe Shrimp Company has a good supply of bait and the fish you didn’t catch.
Inland Freshwater
Dead Lakes
This world-famous fishery is fed by the clear waters of the Chipola River and backed up by the sediment rich Apalachicola River at the bottom end. The king of panfish, the Shellcracker, is joined by the colorful bream and largemouth bass to make this body of water a dream fishery. The old dam bridge located on Lake Grove Road is the best access without a boat. There are several boat ramps such as Dead Lakes State Park just north of Wewahitchka that provide access to those with boats. The Dead Lakes is filled with stumps which are beautiful to look at, but it is the stumps that you don’t see that can ruin your day on the water. Use caution when boating or hire a local guide to experience this timeless wonder.
Lake Wimico
If you want to visit a place that the hand of man is hard to detect, Lake Wimico is that place. You can access this tidal influenced lake via the Intercostal Waterway from the White City Boat Ramp. Panfish and bass are plentiful here. Concentrate on the reedbeds along the edges of this shallow lake and the mouths of the numerous creeks that drain into the lake.
If you are looking for guide references just reach out and we will be glad to assist you. Get out there and enjoy some time in nature and take a kid fishing even if you have to borrow one. They will remind you of why you started the pursuit years ago.
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