Plan Your Trip
January
Weather: Averages 63 high, 53 low
Water Temp: Average
Local Events:
Jan 1, 2024 Cape San Blas Polar Plunge
Jan 27, 2024 JSL Chili Cook Off
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Febuary
Weather: Averages 63 high, 45 low
Water Temp: Average 59
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.
Local Events:
Feb 24, 2024 Apalachicola Mardi Gras Barkus Parade & Street Festival
Feb 22, 2023 Mexico Beach Gumbo Cook Off (2024 date TBD)
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
March
Weather: Averages 71 high, 50 low
Water Temp: Average 63
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.
Local Events:
March 15-24, 2024 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air
March 16, 2024 Breeze by the Bay 5k
March 30, 2024 PSJ Easter Egg Hunt
March 25, 2023 Blues on Reid
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
April
Weather: Averages 77 high, 56 low
Water Temp: Average 70
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.
Local Events:
April 13, 2024 Bay Area Choral Society Spring Concert
April 13, 2024 Women’s Diagnostic Center Formal Fundraiser
Wheels on William - Third Thursday
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
May
Weather: Averages 84 high, 65 low
Water Temp: Average 78
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!
Local Events:
May 4-5, 2024 Bayou Bash
May 20, 2023 Tupelo Honey Festival
Wheels on William - Third Thursday
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Sea Turtle season
June
cWeather: Averages 89 high, 72 low
Water Temp: Average 80
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.
Local Events:
License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day (First consecutive Saturday and Sunday)
Wheels on William - Third Thursday
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Sea Turtle season
July
Weather: Averages 91 high, 74 low is on average the WARMEST month.
Water Temp: Average 84
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.
Local Events:
July 3 - Fireworks Apalachicola
July 4 - Fireworks Port St Joe
TBD - Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival
TBD - MBARA Kingfish Tournament
Wheels on William - Third Thursday
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Sea Turtle season
August
Weather: Averages 90 high, 74 low
Water Temp: Average 84
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.
Local Events:
Aug 16-Sept 24 Scalloping Season Gulf Co
Sea Turtle season
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
September
Weather: Averages 88 high, 70 low
Water Temp: Average 82
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.
Local Events:
Butterflies! If you look on the side of the roads in autumn, you will see tons of monarch butterflies.
Sept 7, 2024 License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day
Labor Day weekend - Florida Scallop Festival
Aug 16-Sept 24 Scalloping Season Gulf Co
Sea Turtle season
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
October
Weather: Averages 81 high, 61 low
Water Temp: Average 77
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!
Local Events:
Oct 1 - Nov 11, 2023 Running of the Bulls tournament
Oct 6-9 Stronger than the Storm
Oct 7-8, 2023 Forgotten Music Festival
Oct 7, 2023, City of Wewahitchka Fall Festival
Oct 7, 2023 Fall Bay Day at St Joseph Buffer Preserve
Oct 10, 2023 Bingo Night Fundraiser for Sacred Heart Hospital Gulf Guild
Oct 13, 2023, Ghosts and Goblins and things that do bump in the night at Scallop Republic
Oct 13-14 Tennessee Chuck Red Snapper Invitational
Oct 19-22, 2023 Blast on the Bay Songwriters Festival
Oct 19, 2023 Tram Tour at St Joseph Buffer Preserve
Oct 21, 2023 Taste of the Forgotten Coast
Oct 21, 2023 Magical Monarchs at Rish Recreational Area
Oct 21, 2023 Porchfest Apalach Music Festival
Oct 21-22 Gulf Coast Shell Club 24th Shell Show
Oct 26, 2023 PSJ PTO Fall Festival
Oct 28, 2023 Beach Clean Up at Rish Recreational Area
Oct 31, 2023 Ghost on the Coast
Oct 31 End of Sea Turtle season
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
November
Weather: Averages 73 high, 51 low
Water Temp: Average 67
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.
Local Events:
Oct 1 - Nov 11, 2023 Running of the Bulls tournament
Nov 2-3, 2023 PSJ Homecoming Football Game and Parade
Nov 3-4, 2023 Florida Seafood Festival in Apalachicola
Nov 11, 2023 Beach Combing Tours at Rish Recreational Area
Nov 17-Dec 10 Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees at the Joe Center of the Arts
Nov 18, 2023 Build a Paddle Wheel Boat
Nov 24, 2023 Apalachicola Downtown Christmas
Nov 24, 2023 Mexico Beach Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
Nov 25, 2023 Monthly Beach Clean Up
Nov 25, 2023 License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day
PSJ Salt Air Farmers Market (1st and 3rd Sat)
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
December
Weather: Averages 65 high, 45 low
Water Temp: Average 65
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.
Local Events:
Nov 17-Dec 10 Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees at the Joe Center of the Arts
Dec 3, 2023 Mexico Beach Christmas Tree lighting
Dec 8, 2023 Bay Area Choral Society Christmas Concert
Dec 9, 2023 Christmas on the Coast Parade PSJ
Dec 16, 2023 First Annual Sling and Fling Disc Golf Tournament in Port St Joe
Dec 16, 2023 Wonderful Wildlife Show
Dec 30, 2023 Monthly Beach Clean up
Dec 31, 2023 New Years Eve Fireworks Celebration in Port St Joe
Apalachicola Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Mexico Beach Farmers Market (2nd and 4th Sat)
Support the Local Bands!
Click on their picture to go to their pages for events and info.
Looking for Live Music in or around Cape San Blas?
We have quite the music scene building! Check out these links as they typically have live music:
Cape San Blas:
Scallop Republic
Indian Pass Raw Bar
Port St Joe:
Haughty Heron
Apalachicola:
Bowery Station
St Joe Beach:
Lookout Lounge