Santa Rosa Beach, Walton County, FL
Patchy rain nearby
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82°F
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Feels 88°
Naples Premier Offshore Fishing Charter
Pattern day — fish are predictable. Work structure and watch the feeding windows.
80-150lb mono leader with crimps
Tarpon require heavy, abrasion-resistant leaders; their mouths are tough and bony
Two-hook rig with sand flea bait
Classic beach setup — pompano love sand fleas; productive all year
Silver spoon (Hopkins, Acme)
Ideal for Spanish mackerel in the surf — fast retrieve, great flash
Classic shad-shaped hardlure plug
Beach staple — works for Spanish macks, bluefish, and mackerel
Local Fishing Resource
The World's Luckiest Fishing Village — Destin Harbor, East Pass, and the Emerald Coast
Open the Okaloosa & Walton Cheat Sheet
Trachinotus carolinus
Excellent eating fish found in surf. Silver body with yellow fins.
Local Notes: Run the first trough behind the breaking waves at Santa Rosa Beach. Sand fleas on a pompano rig or a 1/4-oz jig with shrimp.
Scomberomorus maculatus
Fast-swimming pelagic fish with gold spots. Common in spring and fall.
Local Notes: Blitz along the beach at Santa Rosa Beach during bait migrations. Casting silver spoons into the frenzy.
Pomatomus saltatrix
Aggressive pelagic fish known for spectacular blitzes. Strong fighter with excellent runs.
Local Notes: Bluefish blitz the beaches and piers along the Panhandle in fall. Metal spoons, poppers, or cut bait — they'll eat nearly anything.
Sciaenops ocellatus
Popular game fish with distinctive black spot near tail. Found in shallow coastal waters.
Local Notes: Hunt the troughs and shell pockets along Santa Rosa Beach. Cut mullet or live pinfish on a fish-finder rig.
Archosargus probatocephalus
Bottom feeder with strong teeth. Found around structures and pilings.
Local Notes: Hold around any structure, rocks, or sea walls near Santa Rosa Beach. Fiddler crabs are most effective.
Cynoscion nebulosus
Popular inshore species with distinctive spots. Found over grass flats and sandy bottoms.
Local Notes: Work the nearshore grass patches visible from Santa Rosa Beach with DOA Shrimp or live pilchards at first light.
Megalops atlanticus
Large powerful fish known for spectacular jumps. Migrates along Florida coast.
Local Notes: Roll along the beach at Santa Rosa Beach in the early morning during spring migrations. Live mullet or crabs.
