Need help with Surf Fishing and Camping in Florida

[Surffishingbum]

Hello

I am planning a trip to Florida and plan to Surf fish along the way. I was wondering if anyone can help me out with beaches that you can camp on and Surf fish on? I will be traveling down route 95 from Philly spending time in Hatteras, then continuing down to FLA I plan to fish the east coast go across Alligator Alley, fish the West Coast, and head home. I don't care how long it takes. Any help with beaches will help and any suggestions with places I should fish will be welcomed.

Thank You

 

[Flipper]

There are several State Parks with beach access but camping directly on the beaches isn’t going to happen. There might be one in the Jacksonville area and a small primitive beach north of Clearwater. The first State Park with Beach access is in Jacksonville Fort Clinch going south next would be Anastasia S.P. In St Augustine. Ponce Inlet south of Daytona but no campsites directly at the Inlet. South of that would be Cape Canaveral National Seashore camping at Mosquito Lagoon. Sebastian SP near Vero would be a definitely on the list.Park and camping right at Inlet but not on beach. Jonathan Dickinson SP near Ft Pierce. Beaches you can drive/ fish Vilano at St. Aug, Matanzas Inlet southern of St. Aug. Daytona and NSB. All the Keys, Pennekamp, Curry Hammock, Bahia Honda has prime fishing offshore/ nearshore and backwater. Everglades NP, we will be going there in 2 weeks, extreme backcountry for experienced backcountry camping on Chickees on the waterways and Flamingo. Heading north on the west coast would be Collier Seminole SP. then Korshan. A great Park is DeSoto in St. Pete . Make sure your camping gear has no-see-um screening . These little critters will give you a whole new outlook on life if you are not prepped. Panhandle is a great area some of the parks there are Grayson Beach, Henderson Beach and Fort Pickens at Pensacola. Some of these parks might still be closed with hurricane damage.
Now the bad news, all the above mentioned Parks have to be booked months, some up to a year in advance. You have to check Reserve America several times a day and look for cancellations. I booked our upcoming Glades trip last Oct. to give you an idea what it is like.We have camped and boated Fl. for many years and have been to every SP. If you have any questions give me a shout.

 

[FishinCrzy]

The northern part of the Outer Banks National Seashore down to Hatteras and free ferry across to Ocracoke are designated campgrounds only. Shouldn't be a problem getting a spot this time of year. Driving on the beach with a permit not much problem this time of year. The southern end around Cape Lookout allows beach camping but access is by private ferry. Need to look online to get an idea of what all that entails. I was up around Hatteras and Ocracoke Fall of '19. Wanted to get back last fall but not to be. Good fishing in the surf, inshore, and offshore. Definitely worth spending some time there. Lots of info and maps online. Weather is always a factor out there so be prepared and heed any warnings.

I was recently at Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, SC and on the south end was a particularly fishy looking spot with a lot of dead trees in the water. I want to go back and try that place. You can see it on google earth too. Huntington Beach SP and Edisto Beach SP might be spots to check out. Both have easy access to the beach. What's your timeline for going? I'm sure the fishing will be better as the water warms. Let me know I might meet you for a little fishing. I am retiring at the end of February and I don't get too excited about much of anything that doesn't involve fishing. Preferably with some camping mixed in.

 

[Surffishingbum]

The northern part of the Outer Banks National Seashore down to Hatteras and free ferry across to Ocracoke are designated campgrounds only. Shouldn't be a problem getting a spot this time of year. Driving on the beach with a permit not much problem this time of year. The southern end around Cape Lookout allows beach camping but access is by private ferry. Need to look online to get an idea of what all that entails. I was up around Hatteras and Ocracoke Fall of '19. Wanted to get back last fall but not to be. Good fishing in the surf, inshore, and offshore. Definitely worth spending some time there. Lots of info and maps online. Weather is always a factor out there so be prepared and heed any warnings.

I was recently at Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, SC and on the south end was a particularly fishy looking spot with a lot of dead trees in the water. I want to go back and try that place. You can see it on google earth too. Huntington Beach SP and Edisto Beach SP might be spots to check out. Both have easy access to the beach. What's your timeline for going? I'm sure the fishing will be better as the water warms. Let me know I might meet you for a little fishing. I am retiring at the end of February and I don't get too excited about much of anything that doesn't involve fishing. Preferably with some camping mixed in.

Thank you for the info, I have a few things to tie up before I go, it looks like it will be the beginning of March. I will keep you posted. I think March is better the fish should be moving with the water warming up.

 

[Surffishingbum]

There are several State Parks with beach access but camping directly on the beaches isn’t going to happen. There might be one in the Jacksonville area and a small primitive beach north of Clearwater. The first State Park with Beach access is in Jacksonville Fort Clinch going south next would be Anastasia S.P. In St Augustine. Ponce Inlet south of Daytona but no campsites directly at the Inlet. South of that would be Cape Canaveral National Seashore camping at Mosquito Lagoon. Sebastian SP near Vero would be a definitely on the list.Park and camping right at Inlet but not on beach. Jonathan Dickinson SP near Ft Pierce. Beaches you can drive/ fish Vilano at St. Aug, Matanzas Inlet southern of St. Aug. Daytona and NSB. All the Keys, Pennekamp, Curry Hammock, Bahia Honda has prime fishing offshore/ nearshore and backwater. Everglades NP, we will be going there in 2 weeks, extreme backcountry for experienced backcountry camping on Chickees on the waterways and Flamingo. Heading north on the west coast would be Collier Seminole SP. then Korshan. A great Park is DeSoto in St. Pete . Make sure your camping gear has no-see-um screening . These little critters will give you a whole new outlook on life if you are not prepped. Panhandle is a great area some of the parks there are Grayson Beach, Henderson Beach and Fort Pickens at Pensacola. Some of these parks might still be closed with hurricane damage.
Now the bad news, all the above mentioned Parks have to be booked months, some up to a year in advance. You have to check Reserve America several times a day and look for cancellations. I booked our upcoming Glades trip last Oct. to give you an idea what it is like.We have camped and boated Fl. for many years and have been to every SP. If you have any questions give me a shout.

Thank you, I appreciate the info, I figured with all that was going on with COVID it would be easy to get a campground, boy was I wrong. Luckily I have a lot of friends who live all over Florida and will let me stay with them, it is not the same but at least it will be warm.

 

[Flipper]

Your welcome! Need more info let me know. Be safe.