If you’ve seen one fishing pier, you’ve seen them all, right? If that is what you believe, you obviously haven’t seen the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier! This huge fishing pier is conveniently located about halfway between Destin and Pensacola.
The longest pier in the Sunshine State, Navarre Beach’s fishing pier extends an astounding 1,545 feet into the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. From 30-feet above the water, it’s like looking down into an aquarium. You’ll see all the way to Gulf’s the white sandy bottom. If you’re lucky, you’ll see dolphins frolicking, rays floating, and schools of fish flitting about in the waters below.
The good news? This isn’t the most popular pier on the Emerald Coast. That means you might have much of the pier to yourself. The bad news — if there is any — it’s not free. It costs $1 per adult if you just want to walk out and look around; kids under 12 are free. If you want to fish, you’ll pay $7 per person. (Ask about discounts for kids, people with disabilities, veterans and seniors.)
Even if you’re not fishing, it’s always fun to see what others are pulling out of the 25-foot waters. Some have reported watching teams of fishermen reeling in massive sharks, but we weren’t that lucky during our time on the pier.
The fishermen trying for big game generally congregate at the octagonal end of the pier, but anglers of all abilities fish for mahi mahi, amberjack, bonita, whiting, mackeral and more.
If you have questions about what type of bait to use, the friendly staff at the bait shop is happy to oblige. The pier is wide, so you won’t feel cramped, even if it happens to be crowded.
A ramp makes it wheelchair accessible, and there are tables and benches placed every so often if you need to rest. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the cool sea breezes. Watch out for birds though as they aren’t scared to grab food right out of your hand. Hang onto your pier receipt if you decide to spend some time playing in the surf on beautiful Navarre Beach or eating in one of the nearby restaurants. It gives you all-day access to the pier, and you’ll want to take in the sunset.
Here are some things to remember:
- The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier opens two hours before sunrise and closes two hours after sunset.
- You can get a fishing license, rent tackle and buy bait at the gift shop.
- There are seven water spigots on the pier so you can wash up.
- No pets or glass are allowed on the pier.
- Sea turtles nest on the beach below the pier so take care not to disturb them if you’re around after dark.
The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier offers an easy stroll a third of a mile out into the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. For just a few bucks, spend the day fishing or watching the abundant marine life in its natural habitat.
Insider Tip:
The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier’s Facebook page posts updates about weather and surf conditions along with a listing of what anglers are catching. Check in before you go so you’ll know what type of bait to bring.