Save $10.00
Port guide / Florida Panhandle / Florida
Fort Walton Beach fishing guide
Fort Walton Beach sits on Santa Rosa Sound a few miles west of East Pass, with Okaloosa Island and the Gulf just across the Brooks Bridge, which is being replaced through 2026. Compared with the Destin guide, which is built around East Pass, the jetties and the harbor fleet, Fort Walton is a launch-and-go town: the county runs five boat ramps in and around town, and the 1,262 foot Okaloosa Island Pier gives walk-on anglers a real shot at kings, cobia, tarpon and blackfin tuna. Inside, the sound and bayous fish for reds, trout and flounder.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
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.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Fort Walton Beach. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Okaloosa Island, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Pensacola, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Fort Walton Beach. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Great Days Outdoors Northwest Florida Fishing Report (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Fort Walton Beach. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Peak | Good |
| Florida pompano | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| King mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Red snapper | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Reds peak in spring and again in September and October, and the Okaloosa Island Pier counts red drum among its big fish.
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Best April through June and in September and October, and Panhandle trout harvest is closed in February.
Flounder
Peak: May, June, November
Best in early summer and the November run, but Florida closes harvest Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, September, November
Best March through May, September and November.
Florida pompano
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August
Some pier regulars fish only for pompano, and the pier awards a pass for the first legal pompano each year.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
A normal pier catch from spring through fall, with spring and fall Spanish mackerel tournaments on the pier.
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
The pier's claim to fame; a 42 pound king off the pier once beat every boat in the Destin Fishing Rodeo.
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July
Spring cobia cruise past the end of the pier and are one of the species in the pier's spring tournament.
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Tarpon over 100 pounds are hooked from the Okaloosa Island Pier in summer.
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August
Caught on Gulf reefs during the open seasons, with May through August the peak months.
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 off Florida
Open May 22 to July 31 daily; Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily; Oct. 9 to 22 daily; then 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 (Christmas weekend), and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing Gulf 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 closed 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 closed 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, to 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf
Open year-round in state waters; in federal waters closed Feb. 1 to March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13, 2026; closed at 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)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pier
Okaloosa Island Pier
A 1,262 foot Gulf pier with an octagon on the end where kings, cobia, blackfin tuna and 100 pound tarpon get caught.
- Beach
Okaloosa Island beach accesses
Seven county beachwalks along Santa Rosa Boulevard give surf anglers walk-on access to the Gulf.
- Bay
Cinco Bayou
A bayou in Fort Walton Beach with its own county boat ramp on Seaway.
- Channel
Okaloosa Island Boat Basin
County boat basin on Cobia Avenue on the sound side of Okaloosa Island.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Marler Park boat ramps (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 1275 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| Pocahontas Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 565A Pocahontas Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| Rickey Avenue Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 165 Rickey Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| Water Street Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 99 Water Street, Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 264 Seaway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
| Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 1030 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (2)
- Pier shop
Okaloosa Island Pier tackle shop
Bait: natural bait, artificial bait
1030 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Tackle shop at the base of the 1,262 foot Okaloosa Island Pier, behind Anglers Beachside Grill; open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Bait and tackle
Emerald Coast Bait and Tackle
102 Eglin Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Locally owned bait and tackle shop that also sells kayaks and apparel, with several captains on staff.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Fort Walton Inshore Spectacular (Capt. Adam, via Captain Experiences) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Inshore Fishing out of Shalimar (Capt. Jason, via Captain Experiences) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Destin Fishing Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
all of October; the Okaloosa Island Pier sponsors the Pier, Bridge and Jetties division
2026: Oct. 1 to 31Okaloosa Island Pier Spring Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
every spring, for Spanish mackerel, king mackerel and cobia
Okaloosa Island Pier Fall Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
every fall, for Spanish and king mackerel
Take a Kid Fishing Day at the Okaloosa Island Pier (opens in a new tab)
every September; kids under 18 fish free
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Fort Walton Beach, asked and answered
Can I catch big fish without a boat in Fort Walton Beach?
Yes. The 1,262 foot Okaloosa Island Pier is known for tarpon over 100 pounds, king mackerel, cobia and blackfin tuna, with Spanish mackerel, whiting and pompano as everyday catches.
Where are the public boat ramps in Fort Walton Beach?
Okaloosa County runs ramps at Ross Marler Park on Okaloosa Island, Pocahontas Drive, Rickey Avenue, Water Street and Cinco Bayou on Seaway.
When is red snapper season off Fort Walton Beach in 2026?
For private boats FWC set May 22 to July 31 daily, Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 and Oct. 9 to 22 daily, then weekends and holidays through Jan. 4, 2027. Charter boats with a federal permit fished June 1 to Oct. 26.
Is flounder season open in the fall?
November is one of the best flounder months, but Florida closes flounder harvest every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30, so plan to release them in that window.
What fishing events happen at the Okaloosa Island Pier?
The pier runs spring and fall mackerel tournaments, a free Take a Kid Fishing Day every September, and sponsors the Pier, Bridge and Jetties division of the October Destin Fishing Rodeo.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Fort Walton Beach
Sources for this guide (16), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/fort-walton-beach/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/niceville (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/flounder/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/groupers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myokaloosa.gov/fpm/parks/list (opens in a new tab)
- theislandpier.com/about.php (opens in a new tab)
- theislandpier.com/events.php (opens in a new tab)
- destinfwb.com/event/78th-annual-destin-fishing-rodeo/50881/ (opens in a new tab)
- destinfwb.com/listing/emerald-coast-bait-and-tackle/333/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Fort Walton Beach
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.