I keep seeing different things online, is it illegal in Destin?

I dont know whats gonna bite. How they know I'm gonna catch a shark? Never understood that.

In the past few years they have added all kinds of restrictions to shark fishing, but I have not heard that it is illegal to shark fish from the beach. I have several friends that do it all the time and they have you-tube and local television and newspaper coverage with huge sharks on the beach. Most sharks have a catch and release law or size limit now. The black tip is the only one that I really care to eat, (and I've eaten them all, over the years). Mako is second.

Something I've never tried. I'm sure I will only catch catfish if I catch anything, but thought it might be a fun thing to try at night.

I know in Alabama it is, and I believe in Florida it technically is. However, use a piece of cut bait and say you're fishing for bull reds as they'll often eat the same baits.

I thought it was just illegal to use a chum bag on the beach? Otherwise, you're just fishing...

Ran into the same questions when I went to Gulf Shores. Not sure about FL waters but in AL its perfectly legal as long as its not posted by a local municipality or in a designated beach. Also if swimmers are present you need to be at least 300ft away.

I called the local Gulf Shores fish and game and thats what they told me regardless of what people say.

Call and get the facts first. Checking on the internet is not a good idea when it comes to regs IMO. Lots of "I think and I thought or I heard" so get the facts direct from the source.

I don't know if it's considered different but a lady I used to work with. Her husband caught A large mako from a pier in Panama City years ago.. But he started on the pier and transitioned to the shore

A couple I go to church with where staying in one of the phoenix high rises. Her husband caught a 5 footer off the beach and his wife caught it all on video from their top floor balcony. It was really cool.there where 2 other sharks with the one he caught that you could see in the video.

There are two types of shark fishing from the beach. If you are casting a surf rod with a small steel leader and a hunk of skip jack of other cut bait, then I can guarantee you wont have a problem. (this is for smaller sharks) If you are fishing for the 9-12 footers, then you are going to need a small aluminum boat or kayak to paddle your whole bonita, jack crevalle, or stingray off shore about 300 yards. They will not let you do this in a life guard area. (I know because we have been run off before) In the late 70's and 80's, we used to bring some giant sharks onto the public beaches. They frown on this now for obvious reasons. (don't want to run the tourists off) I have a picture of a 14'5" hammerhead that we caught off the beach in the late 70's. I cant take credit for the catch, but helped my buddy rope and bring it onto the beach. I can send a picture if someone would like to post it on the forum. Just pm me your cell number. Thanks

Blacktips are good eating sharks.

Posting for Peach



This is Navarre beach around 1978. The angler is Roddy pate who still fished Navarre pier today.

Thanks for posting. Some of you guys would stay out of the water if you knew what was lurking close to shore. Last summer a 13-15 ft. tiger shark stayed around Okaloosa Island Pier all day. It actually swam near shore and close to a bunch of swimmers on several occasions. It looked like a submarine in the water.

It's pretty common at Cape San Blas in Florida. I bought me a rig months ago. Hooked into one on my first night but my leader came loose. I have a better leader now. May even try it this weekend.

what kind of set up?

Man that's really cool.

PENN Senator spooled with mono and then braid then wire and heavy mono leader.

There aren't any fish around Cape San Blas and it's a HORRIBLE place to vacation.

why a mono leader?

I think it has some heavy heavy mono but the section before the hook is wire. The longer leader helps prevent the line from being cut due to abrasion by a tail or fin. One of my neighbors made it for me.