All About Apalachee Bay, FL

Apalachee Bay is a 300-square-mile-spanning bay or estuary situated in the Gulf of Mexico’s northeast, indenting Florida’s northern coast at Franklin Bay County. It is bordered by the counties of Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla, and Franklin and receives drainage from the waters of Ochlockonee, St. Marks, Econfina, and Aucilla’s rivers. It has a marshy coast that forms St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The river’s mouth is at the Ochlockonee River State Park, where it enters into Ochlockonee Bay, an arm of the bay itself. 

The Apalachee tribe, who originally inhabited the area until the 18th century, is who the bay was named after. Five boats were built by Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez in the bay in 1528. Additionally, submerged archaeological sites have been identified and examined on the seabed of the bay starting in the 1980s. The bay has a depth ranging from 6 to 20 feet with several shoals, rocks, some bare at low water. 

All About Fishing in Apalachee Bay, FL

Because Apalachee Bay receives a mixture of saltwater from the sea and freshwater from rivers and the uplands, it is teeming with a variety of fish species like speckled trout, redfish, sharks, sea bass, sheepshead, snapper, tarpon and flounder. Black drum, tripletail, kings, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and groupers can also be caught in the bay. A lot of fish gather around the bay’s lush grass flats as well as structures around its arm of Ochlockonee Bay. Over 70% of all fish, shellfish and crustaceans spend the critical stage of their development in the bay’s nearshore waters, protecting themselves from predators in open sea waters.

Inshore fishing for trout is popular in the bay with using live bait being the best way to hook them. Redfish are best found in shallow shorelines and also prefer live bait. Species like tripletail, flounder, sea bass and sheepshead are best spotted on buoys and around structures. To fish for kings, cobia, Spanish mackerel and groupers, offshore fishing using boats is the best bet. Seasoned anglers target the species through fly fishing, jigging and bottom fishing. The bay is a very productive fishing area with over 135 fishing spots available through local guides. Bottom structures like bars and rocks are prime spots to focus on finding when heading to fish at the bay. Anglers are urged to check local fishing regulations and daily catch and possession limits for certain fish species. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing season in Apalachee Bay is at its peak when the waters reach 70 degrees, this is when a wide range of migratory fish emerge. Between March and November, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and sharks are abundant in the bay. Anglers have the chance to land trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum all-year round. Tarpon is best caught in the bay during the summer season, especially in the months of May to August. Cobia are also best caught during warmer seasons. Most of the species residing in the bay prefer warm water temperatures. When the water cools off in the fall, anglers can still get some good fishing action for trout and sheepshead. It’s recommended to check the daily local weather forecast and water and tide conditions before heading out to fish at the bay.

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing season in Apalachee Bay is at its peak when the waters reach 70 degrees, this is when a wide range of migratory fish emerge. Between March and November, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and sharks are abundant in the bay. Anglers have the chance to land trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum all-year round. Tarpon is best caught in the bay during the summer season, especially in the months of May to August. Cobia are also best caught during warmer seasons. Most of the species residing in the bay prefer warm water temperatures. When the water cools off in the fall, anglers can still get some good fishing action for trout and sheepshead. It’s recommended to check the daily local weather forecast and water and tide conditions before heading out to fish at the bay.

All About Fishing in Apalachee Bay, FL

Because Apalachee Bay receives a mixture of saltwater from the sea and freshwater from rivers and the uplands, it is teeming with a variety of fish species like speckled trout, redfish, sharks, sea bass, sheepshead, snapper, tarpon and flounder. Black drum, tripletail, kings, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and groupers can also be caught in the bay. A lot of fish gather around the bay’s lush grass flats as well as structures around its arm of Ochlockonee Bay. Over 70% of all fish, shellfish and crustaceans spend the critical stage of their development in the bay’s nearshore waters, protecting themselves from predators in open sea waters.

Inshore fishing for trout is popular in the bay with using live bait being the best way to hook them. Redfish are best found in shallow shorelines and also prefer live bait. Species like tripletail, flounder, sea bass and sheepshead are best spotted on buoys and around structures. To fish for kings, cobia, Spanish mackerel and groupers, offshore fishing using boats is the best bet. Seasoned anglers target the species through fly fishing, jigging and bottom fishing. The bay is a very productive fishing area with over 135 fishing spots available through local guides. Bottom structures like bars and rocks are prime spots to focus on finding when heading to fish at the bay. Anglers are urged to check local fishing regulations and daily catch and possession limits for certain fish species.