Cape San Blas, FL Fishing: Florida’s Hidden Treasure

Just south of the panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico lies Cape San Blas in Gulf County, Florida. This hidden gem of a destination is known for its idyllic white sand beaches and dreamy turquoise waters that house a diverse selection of marine life. Forming part of St. Joseph Peninsula, Cape San Blas - known to many as simply “The Cape” - wraps around St. Joseph Bay, another prime fishing spot in the vicinity. The Cape is sparsely populated and visited by few tourists due to its remote location. As a result, Cape San Blas and its neighboring coastal towns have remained relatively unspoiled and have been dubbed “the Forgotten Coast”.

The area was first inhabited by Native Americans until Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1700s. It wasn’t until 1822 when the United States government bought the state of Florida from the Spanish. It was only in the 1970s when residential development came to the area. Today, the community has set commercial restrictions and height limitations on infrastructure to maintain The Cape’s quietness and natural beauty. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway with white sandy beaches and a sea full of gamefish, Cape San Blas is the place for you.

Cape San Blas Fishing

With its well-preserved environment, Cape San Blas offers anglers one of the best sportfishing locations on the Florida panhandle. Inshore, the shallow saltwater and grass flats are conducive to surf fishing and kayak fishing. Many of the fish that anglers catch while inshore fishing include black drum, redfish, spotted sea trout, sheepshead, and tripletail. You’ll have your best chances of catching any of these early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The best baits to use include frozen baits and Fishbites hooked to pompano rigs.

Nearshore, anglers have been known to catch pompano, Spanish mackerel, crevalle jack, and sailfish. In deeper waters offshore, experienced anglers try their hand at catching some of the toughest fighters known to frequent the waters of Cape San Blas. These include mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, wahoo, and even mako and bonnethead sharks. They begin to emerge in deep waters with the arrival of warmer weather and stay as late as November. Make sure to bring your big tackle if you’re looking to reel one of these in and increase your luck by using topwater lures and larger baits such as Yo-Zuri and 6-inch Berkley Mullets.

Big sharks are certainly no stranger to this area. In November 2016, a surf angler named Zach Wolk caught a 500-pound tiger shark on the beach at Cape San Blas. Wolk noticed the 11-foot shark had a tag. With the help of NOAA Fisheries, he discovered that the shark was tagged and recorded when it was just a 32-inch pup in October 2006, ten years before he caught it. The catch gained attention on television news and Wolk’s discovery helped marine scientists get more perspective on the growth rate of the tiger shark species. The tiger shark set a record for its growth in liberty, having grown 8 feet and 9 inches.

For anglers that prefer bay fishing, the bays of Cape San Blas will have trout and redfish circling sandy flats and grassy areas. In October and November, flounder appear in the bay areas. These well-known bottom-feeders respond best to white plastic lures and live bait. 

Being a great fishing spot on the coast of Florida, Cape San Blas partakes in annual fishing tournaments such as the Bayou Bash in May and the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) Kingfish Tournament, which stretches from Mexico Beach all the way to Cape San Blas.

The Top 10 Fish Species in Cape San Blas, FL

The top 10 fish species in Cape San Blas, FL are redfish, black drum, spotted sea trout, pompano, crevalle jack, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, sailfish, and tarpon.

Seasonal Fishing in Cape San Blas

The well-protected waters of Cape San Blas ensure great fishing the whole year round. Shallow water fishing techniques - such as surf fishing, kayak fishing, or fishing on small boats - yield the best results from July through September, when the warm waters usher larger fish close to the shore. Fish on the menu during this time include tuna, tarpon, redfish, pompano, and sailfish. Shallow water fishing slows down with the arrival of cooler temperatures from November through February and begins to pick up once more in March.

Fishing in deeper waters is best from April through June, when experienced anglers have the chance to take on tough fighters such as dolphins, wahoo, and sharks. Bay fishing starts to pick up in May with trout and redfish and carries on through October and November, when flounder begin to appear.

From December through February, sheepshead, redfish, flounder, trout, whiting, and black drum can be found in bays and estuaries. At the gulf, you can try your luck finding bonita, vermillion snapper, and pompano. At the beach, the cooler water temperatures during this time tend to bring in bigger sharks. Surf fishing is at a low this time of year - your catch is going to be limited to whiting - as most game fish such as redfish and pompano head to deeper waters.

Be One With Nature at Cape San Blas

The pristine beaches of Cape San Blas make the perfect backdrop for water activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, and boating. Observe various species of marine life - crabs, starfish, stingrays, and many more. The Cape is a very pet-friendly area and some boat charters, such as Bali Hai Charters in Port St. Joe, even allow you to bring your dog on boating excursions. 

If you’re up for catching underwater creatures of a different kind, put scalloping on your to-do list - this is an activity your kids are sure to enjoy. Scalloping season runs from August through September. Because the community is dedicated to sustaining their marine life, you are allowed to bring home 1 pint of scallop meat per day.

1. Fishing Charter

Maximize your trip by booking a boat to take you to the most exciting parts of Cape San Blas.

2.Tour the Coastline on Horseback

There’s just as much fun to be had out of the water at Cape San Blas. It’s one of the few places in the United States that allow horseback riding on the beach. Horse rentals offer daytime, sunset, and evening rides. There are few things in life more breathtaking - or romantic - than riding horseback on the beach at sunset or beneath a full moon. If you’re not confident about your skills on horseback, horse rentals also offer lessons and wagon rides.

3. Make a Day of Exploring Loggerhead Trail

If your legs are itching to walk or go biking, Loggerhead Trail is the place to be. Running for 8 miles, the scenic paved trail runs from Salinas Park to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

4. Get a Front Row Seat to Nature’s Wonders

Back at the beach, other activities you can do include bird and sea turtle watching. Bird watching season runs from fall until spring and gives you the chance to observe a diverse array of feather-winged friends, including bald eagles, cormorants, terns, and American kestrels. If you’re visiting in the summer, turtle season runs from early May through late October. During the first half of the season, you’ll see pregnant sea turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs, which will hatch during the second half of the season. While the entire process is fascinating, it’s also very delicate, so make sure to keep your pets away from sea turtle nests, which are often marked with warning tape.

With a variety of wildlife species - whether underwater or in the sky, every corner of Cape San Blas is an adventure set against a picturesque backdrop. Travel on foot, by bike, or by boat, and witness the unmarred beauty of a hidden gem you’ll want to remember for years to come.