A wide variety of fish may be caught from the jetty. In fact, just about any of the saltwater fish in this area except the big game fish have been
caught there. One of the major factors in catching fish there is the time of year due to migration patterns of the various fish. Here is a general
idea by the time of year.

 JANUARY:                  Redfish, Sheepshead, Grouper, Flounder

 FEBRUARY:               Redfish, Sheepshead, Grouper

 MARCH:                     Redfish, Sheepshead, Bluefish, Pompano, Cobia, Spanish Mackerel

 APRIL:                        Redfish, Sheepshead, Bluefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia. Baitfish also start showing up.

 MAY:                           Redfish, Bluefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Ladyfish, Bonito,  and baitfish.

 JUNE:                         Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Bonito, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snapper and baitfish.

 JULY:                          Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Lady Fish, Bonito and baitfish.

 AUGUST:                    Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Ladyfish, Bonito and baitfish.

 SEPTEMBER:             Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, Ladyfish, Bonito and baitfish.

 OCTOBER:                 Redfish, Bluefish, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Last of the
                                 baitfish for the season.

 NOVEMBER:              Redfish, Mangrove Snapper, Bluefish, Grouper, Flounder. Baitfish are pretty much gone by now.

 DECEMBER:              Redfish, Grouper, Sheepshead, Bonito

jetties are constructed of large
car-size boulders. There is no
smooth walkway on them. To get
to the end, you need to step from
one boulder to the next. There
are drops of over 20' in between
the rocks. Also, under certain
weather conditions, the ocean
waves will reach  the top of the
jetty. People have been swept off
of them by waves. The jetties are
no place for young children.

What do I need to take to
the Jetty?

What you take depends on a lot of factors, ie, what fish you are
targeting, time of the year, your preference. This is just a guide to
start with and is not the final answer.

1.  Two rod & reels

       a. Light weight rod/reel/line for fishing surface lures & bait.

              - ROD: 6-7'
              - REEL: Light weight spinning or bait casting reel
              - LINE:  8 to 12# test, monofilament or braid

      b. Medium weight rod/reel/line for bottom fishing

              - ROD: 8-10' Medium-heavy action
              - REEL:   spinning reel
              - LINE:  20 TO 30# test, monofilament or braid

 2.  Terminal tackle and lures:

              a. Gotchas, rigged with 3-4' 40# fluorocarbon leader or

              b. Pompano jigs, your choice. White head with pink tail
                  always a good one. Tied directly to your main line, no
                  leader required.

              c. Fish finder rigs for live bait

              d. Chicken (Dropper) rigs

              e. Egg sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz

              f. Pyramid sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz

              g. Circle hooks, 2/0, 4/0, 6/0 as needed

              h. Swivels, 80#

              i. Bubble rigs, 2

              j. Bait as desired (Squid, shrimp, etc)

              k. # 6 or # 8 hook Sabiki rigs if you plan to catch live bait

 3.  Back pack or shoulder bag to carry everything in.

 4.  Hat

 5.  Water and other beverage of choice

 6.  Sun Block

 7.  Needle nose pliars

 8.  Knife

 9.  Bag or cooler to carry your fish home in.  I use a soft side cooler
with shoulder strap.  Place you my water/drinks in a plastic bag in
this bag to keep separate from the fish and bait. Enough ice for the
trip.(If possible, gut the fish there)

 10. Landing net or gaff. For the large fish. Sometimes you can not   
get down to the water level due to the waves

 11. Good pair of soft sole shoes to walk on the rocks with.

 12. Food as desired

 13. Towel for holding fish, wiping hands.

 14. Fishing license (Effective August 1, 2009, anyone fishing from
 the jetties must have a Florida Fishing License, includes Florida
 residents and non Florida residents)

15. Measuring stick. The Florida Sportsman magazine produces a
 measuring stick, called the Law Stick, that is stamped with the
 appropriate size limits for Florida's saltwater fish and is real handy.
These are sold at Walmart, Bass Pro, and other tackle and bait
 stores. Half Hitch Tackle also has their own version.

17.  Copy of Florida Fishing regulations with size limits, etc. You can
 pick up at copy at Walmart, other sporting stores, or by ordering

NOTE: Fishing regulations change often. Check the FWCs Hot
 Topics site for the latest: FWC HOT TOPICS



 FLORIDA RESIDENTS: Effective August 1, 2009,  Florida
 residents who fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore will
 need to buy a $7.50 (plus administrative and handling fees of
 approximately $1.50) shoreline fishing license, unless they have a
 regular resident saltwater fishing license.

 NON-FLORIDA RESIDENTS:   Saltwater license required. You
can get these at most sporting stores, Walmart, etc. If you have a
 major credit card, the FWC offers you 2 ways to buy your hunting
 or fishing license without leaving your home.
Follow this link to buy your license online.  FLORIDA FISHING
 LICENSES ONLINE*(A $2.25 + 2.5% surcharge of total sale per
 person will be added to your purchase.)

 Dial toll-free, either 1-888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356) or 1-888-  
 Canada.  (A $3.25 + 2.5% surcharge of total sale per person will
 be added to your purchase.)

 With either method, you'll have a temporary license number within
minutes, enabling you to hunt (in season) or fish right away. Your
 permanent license will be mailed within 48 hours.
Destin East Pass

The twin east pass channel jetties
were constructed in 1969 by the
US Corps of Engineers. They
guard the East Pass Channel from
the sifting sands of the Gulf of

The channel is dredged on a
periodic basis by the US Army
Corps of Engineers to maintain a
mean channel depth of
approximately 14.5 feet. The east
pass channel is the only outlet to
the gulf for the 100 miles of
coastline between Pensacola and
Panama City. For a history and
historical pictures of the Destin
East Pass, go to
Destin East Pass History .

The west jetty is the longest jetty and takes the most time to get to
the end (45 minutes to an hour walk). Access it by parking on the
southwest end of the Destin Hwy 98 bridge and walking along the
shore of the east pass.

West Jetty Parking Area GPS coordinates

N 30 23.28 W 086 31.20

Park in the designated area at the southwest end of the Destin Hwy
98  bridge. Note: The land west of Destin to Ft Walton Beach is
federal property and is part of Eglin AFB.

Parking area for the west Destin Jetty.

Walk along the west shore of the east pass to get to the west jetty.

You have to stay close to the shoreline as the area just south of it is
a bird sanctuary and is posted DO NOT ENTER.

Once you turn the bend, the west jetty will come into view.

You are about a 15 minute walk to the rocks from here.
The water is shallow all the way to the rocks.

Once you reach the rocks, you will find the ocean side is filled in
with soft sand.

 It will take you about 30 minutes to reach the end once you reach
the rocks.

A lot of careful walking from here on.

The green stuff is very slippery.

These are the rocks you will have to climb over.

And the tide moves very fast at times. You fall in and you are out to

Lands end at the west jetty.

The east jetty is the easiest to get to and the shortest walk (20 to 30
minutes). Access it by turning south off of Hwy 98 by Target onto
Gulfshore Drive. Follow Gulfshore Drive to the end of the street,
along the south side of the Destin Harbor.

East Jetty Osteen Beach Access Entrance GPS coordinates

N 30 23.16 W 086 30.20

Park in the designated area on the north side of Gulfshore Drive
along the Destin Harbor. You will need to arrive early in the summer
to find a parking place.

There is a sign "Osteen Public Beach Access" located on the south
side of Gulfshore Drive noting the public entrance.

A fresh water shower is available here to rinse the sand from your
feet. There are no public toilet facilities near here.

Follow the sand trail about 50 yards, following the white concrete
fence on your right.

The trail will open up onto the beach and the east pass.

You will see the spur jetty and the east jetty in the distance. It is
easier to walk on the wet sand than the soft stuff.

In the summer, the dive and snorkeling boats will park in the
sheltered area just north of the Spur Jetty.

The spur jetty is the northern end of the east jetty and protrudes out
into the east pass. It is relatively short.

The end of the Spur jetty is a good fishing place as the deep ship
channel runs near it.

There is a good hole on the northwest end of the spur jetty

The start of the east jetty from the spur jetty

Looking back north from the east jetty toward the Spur Jetty.

The morning boat parade in the summer

End of the East Jetty.  Sometimes the waves will prevent you from
getting this close to the water.

Lands end at the East Jetty

View Destin East Pass Jetties in a larger map

How do I get out to the jetties?

East Pass Jetties

Fishing the Destin East Pass
jetties is an experience into itself.
You are at the heart of Destin's
fishing, the east pass, and have a
ring-side seat to all of the boat
traffic that comes and goes from
the Destin harbor. And, you can
catch fish here just about all the

With the daily tidal changes
coming through the east pass, the
jetties are a prime feeding area for
the predators of the ocean:
shark, king and spanish mackerel,
bluefish, grouper, redfish, flounder,
trout, sheepshead,and a wide
variety of baitfish. The sunrises
and sunsets are spectacular, with
an unencumbered
view of the beach.

Fishing Destin Guide©

                                               East Pass Jetties

A local's guide to fishing around Destin and the Florida Panhandle    

What kind of fish can I catch from the Jetties?

please email me at

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