Let’s Go Fishing…finally!

Franklin County welcomes visitors back to the Forgotten Coast this month. With appropriate social distancing measures in place, visitors are again enjoying beaches, lodging, restaurants, shopping and all things outdoors, including charter fishing and boat tours.

To celebrate the reopening of the Forgotten Coast, the Franklin County Tourist Development Council (FCTDC) is launching an Come to the Coast Outdoors Getaway running now through June 30. Winners of this getaway will enjoy a two night stay on St. George Island, an exclusive tour of the St. George Island Lighthouse and Crooked River Lighthouse at Carrabelle Beach, a kayak rental and a boating excursion. Enjoy evening meals at area Franklin County restaurants.

Fishing returns to the Forgotten Coast just in time for Red Snapper season to open this month in State waters and the Gag Grouper fishing season to open in Federal waters. But whether you’re ready to head offshore or you’re more into inshore water adventures, fishing in Franklin County is all about the action.

You can enjoy your piscatorial pursuit from shore, boat or kayak. There are four public fishing piers in Franklin County and more than 40 boat ramps and kayak/canoes launches. Beach fishing is particularly popular on the east end of the Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park and from the beach at Bald Point State Park in the extreme eastern end of the county. Carrabelle is the area’s undisputed recreational fishing haven. Three pristine rivers converge here and connect with the Gulf of Mexico, providing access to salt and freshwater fishing grounds. Tarpon, redfish, grouper, snapper, trout and cobia are just a sample of what you’ll land.

Hiring a guide is probably the best way to safely enjoy this high-energy saltwater fishing experience. Need some dockage, tackle, guide or advice? There are several marinas and boat rentals, fishing guides and bait and tackle shops just waiting to help.

Fish Free in June!

You can fish license-free in June thanks to Florida’s 2020 free fishing days. The June freshwater license-free fishing dates are June 13-14. The saltwater license-free fishing dates are June 6-7. Free fishing days provide an excellent opportunity for parents who don’t yet have licenses to take youth fishing, or avid anglers to introduce a friend to fishing without having to purchase a license. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers (residents and non-residents). All other rules such as seasons, bag and size limits apply.