Fishing Cape San Blas
January
Fishing:
Weather: Averages 63 high, 53 low
Water Temp: Average
Febuary
Fishing: This month the surf fishing will slow down even more, with most of the catch being whiting and rarely a Pompano or Red Fish. The speckled trout will start to slow down in this cold water, so fish your baits slow. Stick with poppin’ corks trailed by artificial shrimp or live bait in the same manner. The reds will be in deeper water this month.
Weather: Averages 63 high, 45 low
Water Temp: Average 59
March
Fishing: Thank goodness it’s starting to warm up and so will the fishing. Near shore fishing from a boat or adventurous kayaker will be a blast as the King and Spanish Mackerel will be showing back up…and they’ll be big! Cobia also can take you for a ride from a kayak or even small boat. Surf fishing will begin to produce Jack Crevelle and a spoon or plug might land you a Spanish Mack that wandered in closer to shore. Whiting will still be on the menu too. The Trout and Red Fish will still be in deeper waters in the bay and ICW as the water temps will be still be chilly this time of year. Shark fishing will really be heating up in March as well; as the larger game fish move near shore, the sharks come along with them.
Weather: Averages 71 high, 50 low
Water Temp: Average 63
April
Fishing: The near shore fishing for Cobia and Macks will still be strong, and the sharks will still be with them. Troll with Yo-Zuri or MirroLures, or frozen cigar minnows. Our local Kayak fisherman also enjoy Sabiki rigs to catch their own trolling bait. Dragging a minnow off shore from a kayak may get you the ride of your life by a big Cobia, Shark or King Mack (be prepared!). The surf fishing will continue to pickup starting in April. Whiting, Jacks, Sheephead and Pompano can be caught within casting distance of your beach chair using a double or single drop pompano rig and Fishbites or frozen meat. The Bay won’t really be picking up for another month, but in April continue with deep water efforts using Carolina rigs and live bait, or deep diving plugs or soft plastics near the bottom.
Weather: Averages 77 high, 56 low
Water Temp: Average 70
May
Fishing: The weather and fishing are really going to warm up in May. If you’re comfortable getting off shore you can start to live the fisherman’s dream as pelagic season kicks in. Wahoo and Dolphin Fish can be found with 100 miles if the warmer currents push far enough towards the shore, King Macks are in full swing as well. Surf fishing will continue to produce Whiting, Pompano, Sheepshead and Spanish Mackerel. Sand fleas, frozen shrimp, frozen squid, cigar minnows cut down, and Fishbites are all fair game. It’s finally time for some super bay fishing. By now the reds and trout should be moving back into the grass beds and sand flats around the bay. Strap on your Poppin’ Cork or top water lures and let the games begin!
Weather: Averages 84 high, 65 low
Water Temp: Average 78
June
Fishing: The weather is way warmer, and the water is now getting very comfortable! Surf fishing can expand beyond just bottom fishing, toss a Gotcha Plug or spoon out there and very your retrieval from fast to slow, let it bounce around on the bottom. Whiting, Pompano and Sheepshead will be nearby. Off Shore fishing is in full swing now as well, and 100+ miles off shore Wahoo, Dolphin and Marlin and present. In the Bay the trout and Red Fish are active and top water or shallow plastics will get it done. Try a Vudu shrimp or Gulp on a Poppin’ Cork. Some larger baits, like 6’ Berkley Mullets, or larger Yo-Zuri might get you into a big fight with a Tarpon in the bay.
Weather: Averages
Water Temp: Average
July
Fishing: Surf fishing is a blast this time of year! The water is so warm you can stand out there a ways and get your bait out to the sand bar, or beyond if you’re willing to stroll through neck deep water to the sand bar. Get out on the bay either wading, kayak or by boat early and late in the day for a date with Red fish and trout. Keep tossing those corks with plastics 12” to 36” behind. Fish in 4’-8’ of water along areas where grass and sand beds meet.
Weather: Averages 91 high, 74 low is on average the WARMEST month.
Water Temp: Average 84
August
Fishing: In this hot humid month, you can find Tuna within 10 miles of shore chasing bait fish, and you may accidentally hook into a sail fish a bit farther out. Pompano and whiting will still be active from the beach, and shark fishing at night in the summer is a great way to enjoy the beach fire time with a bell attached to the end of your rod. The bay continues to be primed for Red fish and trout around the edges, and it’s the perfect time to rent a kayak and get some sight seeing done while working the sand flats with top water baits.
Weather: Averages 90 high, 74 low
Water Temp: Average 84
September
Fishing: Surf fishing is still terrific this time of year, Ladyfish can be a high octane fish to land as they jump like crazy when fighting, whiting, pompano are plentiful as well. The bay will stay spicy for month or two as well.
Weather: Averages 88 high, 70 low
Water Temp: Average 82
October
Fishing: In October, while you’re working out you Halloween costume ideas, you can get to work on flounder. They will be migrating into the bay and can be caught on the bottom with live bait and white plastics are a personal favorite. Surf fishing can still be great for whiting and Pompano using frozen baits or Fishbites. A spoon or plug may be successful for Spanish macks that are in the shallows feeding fishbites. A spoon or plug may be success!
Weather: Averages 81 high, 61 low
Water Temp: Average 77
November
Fishing: The flounder fishing will only get better this month! Top water fishing for trout and red fish is also terrific. I have wild success in November with chartreus top water Yo-Zuri lures, but there are loads of color options to play with. As the temps drops you’re more likely to get into a big Bull Red from the beach or in the bay. They are a BLAST to fight, but too big to keep, so get your photo (or your friends will never believe you) and let those beasts go for another day. Keep working the surf with frozen baits and Fishbites and enjoy the last of the warm weather if there is still any around.
Weather: Averages 73 high, 51 low
Water Temp: Average 67
December
Fishing: Surf fishing will have slowed down and you’ll be working on Whiting, rarely seeing Pompano and Sheephead. The trout and reds will be, once again, moving into deeper waters. You might try a kayak or shore fishing around the ICW bridge for a change of pace. The Port St Joe marina can be fun for flounder fishing and trout this time of year, and it’s a great time for the whole family to fish from the concrete wall.
Weather: Averages 65 high, 45 low
Water Temp: Average 65
Where to Fish in Gulf County
St. Joseph Bay
This is best accessed by boat, kayak or wadding out from the shore. Enjoy the clear shallow waters and seagrass beds. Note if you are wadding out, it is a shallow bay and depending on the tide might be a long walk to deeper waters. The bay is beautifully protected by the peninsula and has an amazing variety of marine life. Mostly targeted for Flunder, Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Tripletail.
Beaches of Cape San Blas into Gulf of Mexico
Enjoy the miles and miles of sandy beaches to fish from. If you are not having any luck, move 100 feet in either direction! There are typically two sand bars, so try to get your line past the first sand bar for better luck.
Intercoastal Waterway
Access by boat from St Joseph Bay under the bridge or White City boat ramp. This flows east and west through Lake Wimico. Great for windy days where open water might be rough.
Indian Pass Lagoon
Super shallow waters (as low as 6 inches), so best access by flat bottom boat or kayak. The Apalachicola Bay flows into the Gulf at the tip of Indian Pass Peninsula creating a mix of freshwater and saltwater. Oysters haven!
Boat Ramps around Cape San Blas
T.H. Stone Memorial St Joseph Peninsula State Park Boat Ramp
8899 Cape San Blas Rd, Port Saint Joe, FL 32456
The park is open 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year.
Boat Launch $5
State Park Entrance Fee $6 up to eight people in a vehicle, $4 single-occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians and bicyclists.
Click here for the State Parks website
Troy Deal Public Kayak Launch at "The Rocks"
3320 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
Open and free to public for kayak, paddle boarding or wadding.
Port St Joe City Boat Ramp at Frank Frank Pate Park
502 Monument Ave, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
Need a permit to use and can be purchased at City Commons.
Highland View Boat Ramp
Indian Pass Boat Ramp
Overstreet Boat Ramp
Also known as Mallard Street Boat Launch. It is a two concrete boat launches.
Odena Boat Ramp at Depot Creek
Jones Homestead Rd, Florida
PRV6+8X Port St Joe, Florida
Free to public.