St. George Island is a 28-mile long barrier island near Florida's Panhandle. It is 4 miles off the mainland, with Apalachicola Bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The best beach fishing can be found on the Gulf of Mexico side, where there are 25 miles of uncrowded beaches from which to choose.
Types of Fish
Flounder, whiting and redfish can be caught from St. George Island year-round. Sea or speckled trout, pompano and occasionally Spanish mackerel can be caught during the warmer months, when the water temperature rises above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
License Information
In order to fish from the beach on St. George Island, you will need a saltwater fishing license. This applies whether you are a Florida resident or a nonresident. You can get a fishing license at the county tax collector's office or at a retailer that sells hunting and fishing licenses, such as a sporting goods store. Fishing licenses are also available online at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website.
Equipment
To successfully catch fish when you are beach fishing, you need a surf fishing rod. The most affordable rods are made from a composite of graphite and fiberglass, which makes the rod durable and lightweight. Keep in mind that the weight of your rod is proportionate to the power of the rod; the heavier the rod, the bigger the fish you can catch without breaking the rod. You'll also need lures, hooks and bait. The most common bait for surf fishing is salt cured or frozen shrimp that you can purchase at a bait shop. Most sporting goods or bait and tackle shops in the St. George Island area can help you get set up with the gear you need for fishing.
Rules and Regulations
You must follow the state rules for the fish commonly caught from the shores of St. George Island.
Redfish must be greater than 18 inches, but less than 27 inches, long. You may keep one per day. Flounder must be over 12 inches long. You can keep 10 flounder per day. Sea trout must be over 5 inches long, but less than 20 inches. You may keep five per day, and one may be over 20 inches long. Pompano must be greater than 11 inches long but less than 20 inches long. Pompano are measured at the fork, meaning that the length is measured from the end of the closed snout to the point where the tail fins meet. You may keep six per day. Spanish mackerel must be over 12 inches long, and you may keep 15 per day.
The rules change regularly, so be sure to confirm limits before fishing.
Considerations
Before fishing from any beach, check out the tide charts for that beach. You can catch fish at either low or high tide. The key is to knowing what the recent fish feeding patterns have been, the water temperatures and the current patterns can help you find the best spot to catch fish.
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