Boat Ramp
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge - Lighthouse Point Boat Ramp
Stand Alone Ramp; Fee; 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Directions
Saltwater & Coast
Fly Fishing
Spin, Cast & Bait
Apalachee Bay Fishing Guide
Florida
A Big Bend bay of more than 300 square miles off St. Marks, with seagrass beds, oyster bars, and marsh that hold redfish, seatrout, sheepshead, flounder, and Spanish mackerel.
Trip at a Glance
Anglers come to Apalachee Bay for redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and spanish mackerel. In October, redfish, speckled trout, flounder and spanish mackerel are at their peak, and Clouser Minnow, EP Baitfish and Spoon Fly are a good place to start. There are 11 shops within 45 miles (3 fly, 8 bait and tackle); the closest is Jerry's Bait & Tackle in Crawfordville, about 15 mi away. Apalachicola Bay is about 49 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.
Season at a Glance
Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Sheepshead
Spanish Mackerel
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Peak: best fishing Open, slower
Plan Ahead
Planning for a Month
Peak in October
Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel
Daylight
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Moon
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Typical Weather
82°F high, 59°F low
About 3.2 in of precipitation for the month.
Typical for October, not a forecast. Weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 27 mi away. Check the live conditions on this page before you go.
Ways In
Ramps and Launches on Apalachee Bay
Paddle Launch
Shell Point Park Beach Hobie Cat and Kayak Launch
Hand Launch Only; Fee; Daylight Hours
DirectionsFrom Florida FWC Boat Ramp Inventory (FWC-FWRI). Hours, fees, and conditions change; check with the operator before you go.
What You'll Catch
Apalachee Bay Species
Redfish
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Year-round
Speckled Trout
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Sep to May
Flounder
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Apr to May, Sep to Nov
Sheepshead
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Dec to Feb
Spanish Mackerel
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: May to Oct
Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory, NOAA. Public domain.
Plan by Month
What to Use
Month
Fish
14 picks for October. marks species at their peak in October.
Clouser Minnow #1/0-8
FlyStreamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This FlyEP Baitfish #2/0-2
FlyStreamer · Redfish
Shop This FlySpoon Fly #1/0-2
FlyFlats Fly · Redfish
Shop This FlyPaddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in
LureSoft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This LureWalking Topwater 4 to 5 in
LureTopwater · Speckled Trout, Redfish · Big trout at dawn.
Shop This LurePopping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader
LureRig · Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This LureCasting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz
LureSpoon · Spanish Mackerel
Shop This LureBucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz
LureJig · Flounder
Shop This LureWeedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz
LureSpoon · Redfish
Shop This LureMetal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz
LureJig · Spanish Mackerel
Shop This LureLive Shrimp 2 to 4 in
BaitLive Bait · Sheepshead, Speckled Trout, Redfish
Live Minnows 1 to 3 in
BaitLive Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.
Sand Fleas Small
BaitLive Bait · Redfish · Surf.
Cut Mullet Chunk or strip
BaitNatural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Rod & Reel
Recommended Setups
Redfish
Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Speckled Trout
Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Flounder
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.
Sheepshead
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod with a sensitive tip, 3000 reel, 20 lb braid, fiddler crabs on a small strong hook.
Matched to These Species
Gear for Apalachee Bay
Fly Lines
RIO Redfish Fly Line
A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.
Check PriceFloats & Rigs
Cajun Thunder Popping Cork
The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.
Check PriceJigs
Spro Bucktail Jigs
Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.
Check PriceReels
Penn Battle III Spinning Reel
A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.
Check PriceMetal Jigs
Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig
A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.
Check PriceRods
Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod
A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.
Check PriceLine
PowerPro Spectra Braided Line
Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.
Check PriceSoft Plastics
Berkley Gulp! Shrimp
Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.
Check PriceBuy Local
Rather pick it up in person? Shops near Apalachee Bay:
- Jerry's Bait & Tackle, CrawfordvilleWebsite
- Anglers Edge Marine llc, CarrabelleWebsite
- The Rivers Edge Bait & Water Escapes, TallahasseeWebsite
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Within 45 Miles
Shops Near Apalachee Bay
Farther Out
Bait & Tackle
The Rivers Edge Bait & Water Escapes
Tallahassee, Florida· 27 mi
3014 S Adams St 850-877-6201
Fly Shop
Anglers Construction Services, Inc.
Tallahassee, Florida· 34 mi
18210 Bloxham Cutoff 850-879-6606
Within 25 Miles
Guides and Charters Near Apalachee Bay
Charter
Viking Coastal Charters
St Marks, Florida· 9 mi
95 Riverside Dr 850-591-6898
Per their website: Inshore, Half-Day Trips, Full-Day Trips
Charter
King Charters
Crawfordville, Florida· 10 mi
351 Brown-Donaldson Rd 239-963-8612
Per their website: Inshore
Make It a Trip
Nearby Water
Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 49 mi
Apalachicola Bay
The bay between Apalachicola on the west and Eastpoint on the east, where red drum, spotted seatrout, and flounder are found.
Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder
Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 54 mi
Deadman Bay
The bay at the mouth of the Steinhatchee River, inside the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, where redfish, sea trout, and tarpon are found.
Redfish · Speckled Trout · Tarpon