Port guide / Florida Panhandle / Florida

Apalachicola fishing guide

Apalachicola Bay is a shallow river-fed estuary of grass flats, oyster bars, sand bars and channels, sheltered by St. George Island, with East Bay and the Apalachicola River behind the town and Carrabelle and St. George Sound to the east. Reds, trout, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are here year-round, with tripletail, pompano and Spanish mackerel from spring into fall and tarpon in summer. St. George Island has about 25 miles of surf to work, and about 50 artificial reefs lie offshore between Alligator Point and Apalachicola.

Conditions now
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

Tides

Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.

On the water now

Water: Checking
Wind: Checking

Marine forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast.

NOAA tides, Apalachicola, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Apalachicola. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Apalachicola. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Speckled trout	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Good
Flounder	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Slow
Sheepshead	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Good
Black drum	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good
Tripletail	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow
Spanish mackerel	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow
Florida pompano	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Good
Red snapper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow

Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Year-round on the bay's grass flats and oyster bars, and in the St. George Island surf.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, October
Trout live in the bay all year and move into the surf once the water hits about 70 degrees.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Flounder
Peak: May, June, October
Found in the bay and the surf year-round, but harvest is closed Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, October
A year-round bay fish around the oyster bars and structure.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Black drum
Peak: April, May, June, November
Another year-round bay fish around the oyster bars and channels.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tripletail
Peak: May, June, July, August
In the bay from March through November, and local guides target them inshore.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
June through August is tarpon time, and fly and light-tackle guides specialize in them.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spanish mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
In the bay March through November and in the surf once it warms past 70 degrees.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Florida pompano
Peak: April, May, June, October
A warm-water surf fish on St. George Island beaches and in the bay from spring into fall.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August
Offshore boats fish it on Franklin County's artificial reefs and natural bottom during the open season.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

30 ft, seasons and rules

Seasons and rules

Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.

Red snapper, private recreational, Gulf state and federal waters
Open May 22 to July 31 daily; Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily; Oct. 9 to 22 daily; then weekends only: Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29 (Thanksgiving weekend), Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (charter boats with a federal reef fish permit)
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026 and closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closes Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Open 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, 2026; closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf state waters
Open year-round in state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13; closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
Open Sept. 1, 2026 to 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, 2026, then closed until the next season starts Sept. 1, 2027.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, state and federal waters off Florida
Closed every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Panhandle Region
Closed in February; open March 1 through Jan. 31.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bay scallops, Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County zone (includes Carrabelle)
Open July 1 through Sept. 24.
FWC, 2026 season as listed by FWC Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bay scallops, St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County zone
Closed to harvest for the 2026 season after a survey found very low scallop numbers.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Private-boat anglers who keep or target red snapper, gag, red or black grouper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, vermilion snapper and several other reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Survey designation on their license. Charter and headboat customers and anglers under 16 do not. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/state-reef-fish-survey/
Florida manages red drum and spotted seatrout by region. The Panhandle Region runs from the Alabama line east to near Alligator Point in Franklin County and has its own rules. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/
Florida's Gulf state water seasons for red snapper, gag and amberjack are set by FWC and can differ from federal seasons, so check which waters you are in.
FWC set a new lane snapper size and bag limit for Gulf state waters effective April 1, 2026. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Flats
Apalachicola Bay flats and oyster bars
Grassy flats, oyster bars, sand bars and small islands across the bay hold reds, trout, flounder, sheepshead and black drum all year.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
St. George Island bayside fishing pier
A free pier on the north side of the island that runs 600 feet into the bay.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Beach
St. George Island surf
Whiting, flounder and reds year-round, plus trout, pompano, bluefish and Spanish once the water is 70 degrees or warmer.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Channel
Apalachicola River
The river basin feeds the whole estuary, and guides run river trips along with the bay.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Franklin County artificial reefs
More than 50 offshore reefs run from Alligator Point to Apalachicola; the Organization for Artificial Reefs lists the sites.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Carrabelle River and St. George Sound
Carrabelle has piers on the river and Island View Park east of town has a fishing pier on St. George Sound.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Apalachicola
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Battery Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	Beneath the John Gorrie Bridge, Apalachicola, FL
Patton Drive Public Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	Patton Drive, Eastpoint, FL
St. George Island Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	Near the St. George Island fishing bridge, St. George Island, FL
Marine Street Boat Ramp (City of Carrabelle) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	Marine Street off Hwy 98, Carrabelle, FL
4th Street Public Boat Ramp (City of Carrabelle) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	Hwy 98 at 4th St W, Carrabelle, FL
Timber Island Boat Ramp (Franklin County) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	End of Timber Island Road, Carrabelle, FL
St. George Island bayside fishing pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Free	North side of St. George Island, FL
12th Street Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	South end of West 12th Street near the Hwy 98 bridge, Carrabelle, FL

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Apalachicola
Shop	Where	Phone
Survivors Bait & Tackle (opens in a new tab)	28 West Pine Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328	850-927-7770
Allen Seafood Bait & Tackle (opens in a new tab)	462 West Highway 98, Apalachicola, FL 32320	850-653-9882
Fisherman's Choice (opens in a new tab)	330 US Highway 98, Eastpoint, FL 32328	850-670-8808
Scipio Creek Marina (opens in a new tab)	301 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320	850-653-8030

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Apalachicola
Charter	Fishing
Boss Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Robinson Brothers Guide Service (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Bay View Charters of SGI (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Fish King Charters (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Family Traditions Charters (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Saltwater Solutions Flyfishing (opens in a new tab)	Fly

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

Florida Seafood Festival (opens in a new tab)
early November
2026: November 6 to 7

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Apalachicola, asked and answered

What can I catch in Apalachicola Bay year-round?

Speckled trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are in the bay all year on the flats, oyster bars and channels. From spring into fall you add Spanish mackerel, pompano and tripletail, and tarpon show up in summer.

When is tarpon season in Apalachicola?

June, July and August are the tarpon months, and local fly and light-tackle guides specialize in them.

Is there free pier fishing on St. George Island?

Yes. The bayside pier on the north side of the island runs 600 feet into the bay and has no fee.

When is scallop season near Carrabelle in 2026?

FWC lists July 1 through Sept. 24 for the Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County zone. The St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County zone to the west is closed for 2026.

Do the Carrabelle boat ramps charge a fee?

Yes. The city ramps at Marine Street and 4th Street are both paid launches.

90 ft, the kit