Emerald Coast fishing: what is open today, piers, ramps and reefs
As of Fri., Oct. 30, 2026, 6 of the 8 fish we track on the Emerald Coast can be kept today: red snapper (through Sun., Nov. 1), redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, gray triggerfish (through Thu., Dec. 31, 2026), and red grouper. Closed: gag grouper and greater amberjack. Most anglers 16 and older need a Florida saltwater license: $17 a year for residents, and $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days or $47 a year for visitors, per the FWC. Rules from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
What you can keep today, Fri., Oct. 30
-
Red snapper
Open Open today through Sun., Nov. 1 -
Redfish (red drum)
Open Open year-round -
Speckled trout (spotted seatrout)
Open Open until Jan. 31 -
Sheepshead
Open Open year-round -
Gray triggerfish
Open Open through Thu., Dec. 31, 2026 -
Red grouper
Open Open year-round -
Gag grouper
Closed Closed. The 2027 season has not been announced. -
Greater amberjack
Closed Closed. The 2027 season has not been announced.
Red snapper open dates
| Open dates | Status |
|---|---|
| Fri., Oct. 30 to Sun., Nov. 1 | Open now |
| Sat., Nov. 7 to Sun., Nov. 8 | Upcoming |
| Sat., Nov. 14 to Sun., Nov. 15 | Upcoming |
| Sat., Nov. 21 to Sun., Nov. 22 | Upcoming |
| Thu., Nov. 26 to Sun., Nov. 29 | Upcoming |
| Sat., Dec. 5 to Sun., Dec. 6 | Upcoming |
| Sat., Dec. 12 to Sun., Dec. 13 | Upcoming |
| Sat., Dec. 19 to Sun., Dec. 20 | Upcoming |
| Fri., Dec. 25 to Sun., Dec. 27 | Upcoming |
| Fri., Jan. 1 to Mon., Jan. 4, 2027 | Upcoming |
Season calendar: the next 12 months
| Species | Oct ’26 | Nov | Dec | Jan ’27 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red snapper | Open | 11 d | 9 d | 4 d | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Redfish | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Speckled trout | Open | Open | Open | Open | Closed | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Sheepshead | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Gray triggerfish | Open | Open | Open | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Red grouper | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Gag grouper | Closed | Closed | Closed | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Greater amberjack | Closed | Closed | Closed | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Open all month"12 d" = open 12 days that monthC&R = catch and release onlyClosed— = not announced yet
Florida saltwater fishing license prices
| License | Florida resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day | Not offered | $17 |
| 7-day | Not offered | $30 |
| Annual | $17 | $47 |
| Five-year | $79 | Not offered |
| Shoreline only (no boat) | $0 | Not offered |
- No license needed: under 16, Florida residents 65 and older with proof, passengers on a licensed charter, anglers on a pier with its own saltwater pier license.
- Fishing for reef fish such as red snapper from a private boat also needs the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, renewed every year.
- Sold at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, county tax collector offices and license vendors (vendors may add 50 cents).
Where to fish
Public Gulf fishing piers
| Pier | County | Length | Fishing fee | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, 300 Pier Road, Fort Walton Beach | Okaloosa | 1,270 ft | Set by the county's leaseholder | Not listed by the county |
| Navarre Beach Pier, 8579 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach | Santa Rosa | 1,545 ft | $7 adults; $6 seniors and active-duty military; $4 ages 15 and under; license included | 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. winter; 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. summer |
| M.B. Miller County Pier, 12213 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach | Bay | 1,500 ft | $6 over age 6; $3 seniors 65+, active military, disabled anglers | 24 hours |
Public boat ramps by county
Okaloosa County (7)
- Ross Marler Park · 1275 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach
- Water Street Boat Ramp · 99 Water St., Fort Walton Beach
- Rickey Avenue Boat Ramp · 165 Rickey Ave., Fort Walton Beach
- Pocahontas Boat Ramp · 565A Pocahontas Drive, Fort Walton Beach
- Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp · 264 Seaway, Fort Walton Beach
- Swift Bayou Boat Ramp · 213 Edrehi Ave., Niceville
- Joe's Bayou Public Boat Launch (City of Destin), $25 a day · 800 Beach Drive, Destin
Walton County (4)
- Point Washington Landing · 1462 N. County Highway 395, Santa Rosa Beach
- Grady Brown Park · US 331 at the Clyde B. Wells Bridge, Freeport
- Cessna Landing Park · 1729 County Highway 393 N., Santa Rosa Beach
- Lake Jackson public boat ramp (free) · Paxton
Santa Rosa County (1)
- Navarre Beach Boat Ramp · 1453 Navarre Beach Causeway
Bay County (10)
- Dolphin Boat Ramp · 3700 Dolphin Drive, Panama City Beach
- Oriole Street Boat Ramp · Oriole Street, Panama City Beach
- West Hathaway Bridge Boat Ramp · Southwest side of Hathaway Bridge
- B.V. Buchanan Park Boat Ramp · B.V. Buchanan Bridge (West Bay)
- Burnt Mill Creek Boat Ramp · Burnt Mill Creek Road (West Bay)
- Crooked Creek Boat Ramp · Titi Road (West Bay)
- Lake Powell Ramp · Lake Powell Road (Philips Inlet)
- Maude Holmes Boat Ramp · Sandy Creek Road, Callaway
- Donald Penny Boat Ramp · SR 77A, Southport (Fanning Bayou)
- St. Andrews State Park ramp, $12 to $16 · Panama City Beach
Largest ship reefs off Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County has 488 artificial reef deployments, including 42 sunken vessels, in the FWC reef database. The FWC says its coordinates are for display only, not for navigation.
| Reef | Sunk | Depth | GPS | Waters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark | 1982 | 332 ft | 29° 55.103' N, 86° 34.926' W | Federal |
| Monarch Countess | July 31, 2024 | 180 ft | 30° 06.349' N, 86° 45.502' W | Federal |
| Spirit of Norfolk | June 24, 2025 | 128 ft | 30° 07.941' N, 86° 39.688' W | Federal |
| M/V Courageous | April 28, 2022 | 130 ft | 30° 06.689' N, 86° 33.301' W | Federal |
| DEEP STIM III | Jan. 30, 2024 | 135 ft | 30° 03.035' N, 86° 17.758' W | Federal |
| USS Shamal (PC 13) | March 21, 2026 | 165 ft | 30° 04.860' N, 86° 36.760' W | Federal |
| USS Zephyr (PC 8) | March 23, 2026 | 157 ft | 30° 04.221' N, 86° 33.946' W | Federal |
| R/V Manta | Jan. 15, 2023 | 111 ft | 30° 08.630' N, 86° 39.192' W | Federal |
| R/V Dolphin | March 15, 2023 | 122 ft | 30° 07.634' N, 86° 24.131' W | Federal |
| USAF Big Dawg | May 7, 2021 | 104 ft | 30° 09.047' N, 86° 34.424' W | Federal |
| M/V Fantasea | July 15, 2025 | 88 ft | 30° 14.388' N, 86° 30.294' W | State |
Anglers, help keep this guide right
- Closed ramp, new pier fee or a rule change? Tell our Outdoors Desk. We check it with the official source and update this guide.
- Fish here every week? Write a monthly fishing report for Emerald Coast Dispatch with your own byline. Become a community contributor.
- Captains and guides: claim your charter listing for free to add your trips, hours and photos. Claim your listing.
Fishing charters in Emerald Coast
Presented by: this guide has one sponsor spot, and it is open.
Fishing guides from our Outdoors Desk
- Red snapper season reopens Oct. 30 off the Emerald Coast: dates, limits and licenses
- Redfish, speckled trout and sheepshead: inshore fishing rules on the Emerald Coast
- Florida saltwater fishing license on the Emerald Coast: who needs one, where to buy
- Public fishing piers and boat ramps in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties
- Artificial reefs off Destin and Okaloosa County: how to find them and fishing rules
- Emerald Coast beach park fees: Gulf Islands, Henderson, Grayton and St. Andrews
Questions anglers ask
Is red snapper season open this weekend in Florida?
Yes. Gulf red snapper is open Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, for private boats and state-permitted charter boats, according to the FWC. It then opens on set weekends and holidays through Jan. 4, 2027.
How many red snapper can I keep in Florida?
Two per person per day, each at least 16 inches total length, in Gulf state and federal waters, per the FWC 2026 rules. Captain and crew on for-hire boats may keep none.
Where can I get GPS coordinates for artificial reefs off Destin?
The FWC publishes every permitted Florida artificial reef, with latitude, longitude, depth and state or federal waters, in its free Artificial Reefs in Florida dataset and a statewide PDF list. The FWC says the data should not be used for navigation.
How many artificial reefs are off Okaloosa County?
The FWC artificial reef database lists 488 deployments off Okaloosa County, including 42 vessels, as of Oct. 30, 2026. Okaloosa County said in June 2026 that it has 48 large vessels in the Gulf.
How many redfish can you keep in the Florida Panhandle?
One per person per day, between 18 and 27 inches total length, with no more than four per boat, as of Oct. 30, 2026, according to the FWC. The season is open year-round.
When is trout season closed in the Florida Panhandle?
Spotted seatrout season is closed in February in the FWC Panhandle region, which includes Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties. It is open March 1 through Jan. 31.
Do I need a fishing license to fish from a pier in Destin?
Yes, unless the pier holds an FWC saltwater pier license, which covers everyone fishing from it. Anglers 16 and older otherwise need a Florida saltwater license; Florida residents can use the free shoreline-only license from a pier, per the FWC.
How much is a Florida fishing license for a nonresident?
As of Oct. 30, 2026, a nonresident Florida saltwater fishing license costs $17 for three days, $30 for seven days or $47 for a year, according to the FWC.
How much does it cost to fish off the Navarre Beach Pier?
As of Oct. 30, 2026, fishing admission at the Navarre Beach Pier is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and active-duty military, $4 for ages 15 and under and free for 5 and under, with the fishing license included, per Santa Rosa County.
Do I need a fishing license on the pier in Panama City Beach?
Bay County's M.B. Miller County Pier page does not say whether the $6 pier fee includes a license, so ask at the pier. The FWC exempts anglers on a pier that holds a saltwater pier license, and Florida residents can use the free shoreline-only license.