Navarre Beach Fishing Pier
Historical Context
Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, located in Navarre Beach, Florida, has been a prominent landmark and popular fishing destination since its original construction in the 1970s. The pier initially served as a recreational spot for both locals and tourists, offering stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and access to a variety of fish species.
The original pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The current Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, which opened in 2010, is the longest fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico, stretching 1,545 feet into the water. It was rebuilt using modern materials and construction techniques designed to withstand severe weather conditions. The new design includes reinforced pilings, durable composite decking, aluminum railings, and state-of-the-art lighting for night fishing.
Over the years, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier has faced numerous environmental challenges, particularly from hurricanes and tropical storms. Each significant weather event has required repairs and reinforcements to ensure the pier’s safety and functionality. Continuous maintenance and upgrades have been essential in keeping the pier operational and safe for visitors.
Recent enhancements to the pier include improved lighting for night fishing, upgraded restroom facilities, and better accessibility features. The surrounding area has been developed to offer ample parking, picnic areas, and shaded spots, making it a family-friendly destination. The pier also features a bait and tackle shop and a concession stand, providing convenience for anglers and visitors alike.
Pier Specifics and Amenities
- Length: 1,545 feet, the longest fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico.
- Lighting: Enhanced lighting for night fishing.
- Fish Cleaning Stations: Equipped with running water.
- Benches: Numerous benches for relaxation.
- Parking: Ample parking space available near the pier.
- Restrooms: Upgraded facilities available for visitors.
- Accessibility: Improved features for better accessibility.
- Additional Amenities: Bait and tackle shop, concession stand, picnic areas, and shaded spots.
Fish Species and Fishing Techniques
The waters around Navarre Beach Fishing Pier are rich with a variety of fish species. Here are some of the most common species and effective techniques for catching them from the pier:
1. Red Drum (Redfish)
Techniques: Use live bait such as shrimp or mullet, or artificial lures like soft plastics. Fish during tidal changes near the pier pilings and structures.
Best Months: March to November.
2. Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout)
Techniques: Use live shrimp or baitfish, or artificial lures like topwater plugs and soft plastics. Fish during early morning or late evening near pier lights and shadow lines.
Best Months: April to October.
3. Flounder
Techniques: Use live bait such as minnows or shrimp, or artificial lures like bucktail jigs. Fish near sandy bottoms and around the pier pilings during tidal changes.
Best Months: May to September.
4. Black Drum
Techniques: Use live bait such as shrimp or crabs. Fish near the pier pilings and structures during tidal changes.
Best Months: February to April, October to December.
5. Sheepshead
Techniques: Use live bait such as fiddler crabs or shrimp. Fish near pier pilings and other structures where barnacles and crustaceans are present.
Best Months: January to March, October to December.
6. Spanish Mackerel
Techniques: Use small metal lures or live bait such as small fish. Fish near schools of baitfish and during moving tides off the pier.
Best Months: May to September.
7. Bluefish
Techniques: Use cut bait like mackerel or bunker, or artificial lures like metal jigs and poppers. Fish near schools of baitfish and during moving tides off the pier.
Best Months: April to October.
8. Pompano
Techniques: Use live bait such as sand fleas or shrimp. Fish near sandy bottoms and during rising tides off the pier.
Best Months: June to September.
9. Kingfish (Whiting)
Techniques: Use small pieces of shrimp or bloodworms on small hooks. Fish near sandy bottoms and during rising tides off the pier.
Best Months: Year-round.
10. Ladyfish
Techniques: Use small live bait or artificial lures like spoons and jigs. Fish near the surface during moving tides off the pier.
Best Months: May to October.
11. Sailfish
Techniques: Use live bait such as ballyhoo or goggle-eye, fished near the end of the pier in deeper waters.
Best Months: April to September.
12. Tarpon
Techniques: Use live bait such as mullet or pinfish. Fish near the end of the pier, especially during early morning or late evening.
Best Months: May to August.
Fishing Calendar
Month | Red Drum | Spotted Seatrout | Flounder | Black Drum | Sheepshead | Spanish Mackerel | Bluefish | Pompano | Kingfish | Ladyfish | Sailfish | Tarpon |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | Bad | Bad | Bad | Great | Great | Bad | Bad | Bad | Great | Bad | Bad | Bad |
February | Bad | Bad | Bad | Great | Great | Bad | Bad | Bad | Great | Bad | Bad | Bad |
March | Great | Great | OK | Great | OK | Bad | OK | Bad | Great | Bad | OK | Bad |
April | Great | Great | Great | Great | OK | OK | Great | Bad | Great | OK | Great | OK |
May | Great | Great | Great | OK | OK | Great | Great | OK | Great | Great | Great | Great |
June | Great | Great | Great | Great | OK | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
July | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
August | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
September | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
October | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | OK | Great | Great | Great | OK |
November | Great | Great | OK | Great | Great | Bad | Great | Bad | Great | OK | OK | Bad |
December | Great | OK | Bad | Great | Great | Bad | Bad | Bad | Great | Bad | Bad | Bad |
Address
8579 Gulf Boulevard, Navarre, FL, USA
Website
Operating Hours
Pier Winter Hours
6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Effective November 6
Pier Summer Hours
5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Admission & Pricing
Admission for disabled veterans and mobility and visually impaired is free. The pier has an accessible entrance ramp and 16 handicapped accessible railing locations.
FISHING PASSES
FISHING LICENSE INCLUDED IN ADMISSION:
- Adults: $7
- Seniors & Active Duty Military: $6
- Youth (15 and under): $4
- 5 and Under: Free
Rod rental and bait available at the pier store.
WALKING PASSES
- Children and Adults: $1
- 5 and Under: Free
WEEKLY PASSES:
- Senior & Active Duty Military Fishing Pass: $40
- Adult Fishing Pass: $45
- Youth Fishing Pass: $25
- Walking Pass: $5
ANNUAL PASSES:
- Adult Fishing Pass: $150
- Senior (65+) Fishing Pass: $100
- Youth (Under 16 Years) Fishing Pass: $75
- Active Duty Military Fishing Pass: $100
- Family Fishing Pass: $300
Immediate Family Defined as Spouse and Children. 5 person max. Children must be under 18. - Walking Pass: $60
Please note: Passes can be purchased at the pier store.
Rod Rentals
Unknown
Bait Option
Unknown
Amenities
Navarre Beach Pier Features
- Concrete piles: 150- two foot square concrete piles totaling over 10,000 feet in length combined
- An octagonal end design with a surface area of approximately 3,800 square feet
- Deck: Over 800 breakaway wood panels, which will detach during heavy wave action and help preserve integrity of the structure, reducing possible storm repair costs
- 7 potable water spigots
- Deck height: 30 feet above the water
- Surface: Over 32,000 square feet of accessible surface
- Railing: More than 3,000 feet of handrail with no obstructions located above the railing which would interfere with fishing
- Attendant building with stair and handicap accessible ramp access to pier
- Over 90 low wattage lights and concrete bollards to protect sea turtle nesting
- 16 handicap accessible railing locations
Pier Facts
Access to Pier
Wooden stairs and an ADA ramp are available. The pier deck also includes 16 handicap accessible railing locations.
Height of Deck
The deck height is located at 30 feet above the water. This height is the same as the Okaloosa County Fishing Pier and necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the structure during storm events with high waves.
Pier Lighting
Lights are integrated into one-foot thick concrete bollards spaced every 35 feet. The top of the concrete bollards are flush with the top of the railing. Only turtle friendly lights are used.
Pier Railing
The rail height is located at three feet, six inches above the pier deck in order to comply with the Florida Building Code. The railing thickness is six inches. There are no obstructions located above the railing that would interfere with fishing. Two inch by two inch plastic coated wire mesh is stretched between the railing posts.
Pier Walkway Surface
The decking for the pier is wood. During high wave events, the wood panels can lift out and float away to relieve pressure on the pier. The wood panels are constructed of three inch by six inch pressure treated southern yellow pine structural grade 1. The panels are six feet long with a maximum width of 12 feet and a minimum width of six feet. The use of grade 1, not grade 2, wood will help with warping as will the weight of the panels.
Angle of Piles
In order to maintain the structural stability of the pier during storms, the pilings enter the sandy bottom at a 20 degree angle. This results in the outer piles extending out one foot for every five feet of drop from the decking. The outer pilings extend out six feet from the pier at the water surface.
Protection of Wildlife
Signs are posted with safe fishing guidelines for the protection of sea turtles, birds and dolphins. In the event that a sea turtle, bird or dolphin is hooked or entangled in line, phone numbers to call are posted on the signs. The pier is located in a federally designated critical habitat for the Gulf Sturgeon. Signage is located on the pier educating fishermen about the Gulf Sturgeon. Discarding fish wastes, bait and monofilament line is prohibited. Monofilament recycling stations are located on the pier.
Fish Caught
- Red Drum (Redfish)
- Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout)
- Flounder
- Black Drum
- Sheepshead
- Spanish Mackerel
- Bluefish
- Pompano
- Kingfish (Whiting)
- Ladyfish
- Sailfish