Okaloosa Island Pier - Fishing

Review

Intro

Surrounded by the Santa Rosa Sound, Choctawhatchee Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, Okaloosa Island has an abundance of fish, and the Okaloosa Island Pier is one of the best places to try and catch one. The pier is 1,261 feet long (almost a quarter of a mile), and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except in the winter). It's also part of Florida's Emerald Coast, so the landscape isn't too bad, either. 

What Makes It Great

The Okaloosa Island Pier is the perfect place for a shorebound fisherman to spend the day. The landscape is gorgeous, the fish are biting year round - what more could you ask for? There is an admission fee, but it is good until midnight, so you can spend as much time there as you want. 

Originally built in 1972 and extended in 1998, the pier is known for large fish, such as tuna, king mackerel, cobia, redfish, bonito, and jack cravelle. Spanish mackerel, whiting, and bluefish are also regularly caught off the pier.

There is a tackle shop next to the pier where you can get artificial or live bait, and also rent rods and reels.

Who is Going to Love It

The pier is popular with local and visiting fisherman, as well as tourists. It's a great place to spend some time in the salty air and get a great view of the water, especially at sunset. There isn't much else to do on the pier, but the beach is a great place to spend the day while one or more family members fish off the pier.

Directions, Parking, & Regulations

The pier is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except in the winter. Check the website for hours and for a daily weather/catch report.