About West Pass Bay, FL

West Pass Bay is a bay or channel that exchanges water with the lagoon and estuary of Apalachicola Bay to its east as well as with the Indian Pass, East Pass and the Duer Channel. It is located between St. Vincent Island and Cape St. George Island State Reserve within Franklin County in northwest Florida. 

The region around Apalachicola Bay, including West Pass, features over a thousand species of plants, and includes the largest natural stand of tupelo trees in the world. The area is also where hundreds of species of birds, species of fish, and over fifty species of mammals can be found and it contains all of North America’s highest species density of reptiles and amphibians. The pass contains brackish waters with the water increasing in salinity due to the lack of fresh water flowing into the neighboring bay as a result of municipal water usage.

All About Fishing in West Pass Bay, FL

West Pass Bay has a small but dependable run of tarpon. Anglers can also find a variety of other fish species in the channel all-year round including speckled sea trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, Spanish mackerel, pompano, tripletail, bluefish, ladyfish, sharks, whiting, red snapper, grouper, amberjack, cobia, jack crevalle, kingfish, and mahi-mahi due to its adjacency to Apalachicola Bay. Over 100 species can be found in the area due to it being riddled in grassy flats, oyster bars, sand bars, channels and small islands.

The channel is a good spot for inshore fishing as it is sandwiched between two islands, though surf and offshore fishing can also be done there with waters being relatively calm from large waves as it and the nearby bay are barriered by islands. Boat or kayak rental services are available in the area as well as multiple piers, docks and bait and tackle shops. Anglers can also do some surf casting from the area’s white sand beaches. Bait fishing, light tackle fishing, fly fishing and spinning are commonly done in the bay with local fishing charter services also accessible for a more informed and thorough fishing experience. Charter services can also provide anglers required licences, gear, bait and tackle to ensure compliance with local fishing regulations.

Fishing Seasonality

Anglers can get good fishing action in West Pass Bay all-year round but it’s better to head out there in the warmer months as it’s ideal for a different variety of fish species. Tarpon can be best caught from June to September at the pass. Species like speckled sea trout, whiting, redfish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum can be fished for all-year round. Between the months of March and November, species like tripletail, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and sharks are abundant. Speckled trout, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and sharks like when the waters are warm, normally when it’s over 70 degrees fahrenheit or warmer. It is advised to look up daily catch and bag limits for certain species of fish. Anglers are also encouraged to check the daily tide, water and weather forecasts before heading out to fish.

Fishing Seasonality

Anglers can get good fishing action in West Pass Bay all-year round but it’s better to head out there in the warmer months as it’s ideal for a different variety of fish species. Tarpon can be best caught from June to September at the pass. Species like speckled sea trout, whiting, redfish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum can be fished for all-year round. Between the months of March and November, species like tripletail, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and sharks are abundant. Speckled trout, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and sharks like when the waters are warm, normally when it’s over 70 degrees fahrenheit or warmer. It is advised to look up daily catch and bag limits for certain species of fish. Anglers are also encouraged to check the daily tide, water and weather forecasts before heading out to fish.

All About Fishing in West Pass Bay, FL

West Pass Bay has a small but dependable run of tarpon. Anglers can also find a variety of other fish species in the channel all-year round including speckled sea trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, Spanish mackerel, pompano, tripletail, bluefish, ladyfish, sharks, whiting, red snapper, grouper, amberjack, cobia, jack crevalle, kingfish, and mahi-mahi due to its adjacency to Apalachicola Bay. Over 100 species can be found in the area due to it being riddled in grassy flats, oyster bars, sand bars, channels and small islands.

The channel is a good spot for inshore fishing as it is sandwiched between two islands, though surf and offshore fishing can also be done there with waters being relatively calm from large waves as it and the nearby bay are barriered by islands. Boat or kayak rental services are available in the area as well as multiple piers, docks and bait and tackle shops. Anglers can also do some surf casting from the area’s white sand beaches. Bait fishing, light tackle fishing, fly fishing and spinning are commonly done in the bay with local fishing charter services also accessible for a more informed and thorough fishing experience. Charter services can also provide anglers required licences, gear, bait and tackle to ensure compliance with local fishing regulations.