St. George Island Florida is a beautiful 22-mile barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. Home to the most unspoiled, serene beaches in Florida, St. George Island offers plenty of things to do for every visitor with its laid-back attitude, breathtaking beaches and unspoiled nature. Florida has one of the most active artificial reef programs among the 15 Gulf and Atlantic coastal states involved in artificial reef development. The Forgotten Coast alone lays claim to 50 artificial reefs, located offshore from the Franklin County coastline. Spanning from Alligator Point to Apalachicola, these fruitful “fish hotels” provide a helpful habitat for hundreds of fish species that migrate through our region. These active reefs are fabulous fishing spots for offshore anglers.
The beaches are perfect for family-friendly activities— Fishing, Shell Hunting, Sandcastle Art, or just simply basking in the sun soaking in as much relaxation as you can stand.
Whether you’re a reel rookie or an angling pro, St. George Island is every fisherman and fisherwoman’s paradise. When you throw out a line from the shore or from a boat, on the bay or gulf waters you can expect to land sheepshead, speckled trout, flounder, whiting, redfish and tripletail, snapper, grouper, amberjack, sea bass, mackerel, mahi-mahi, cobia and sharks. Our island is home to several bait and tackle shops as well as two public boat ramps. Not ready to go it alone? Check out the links to some of the local experience Charter and Tour Guides
Ready to be adventurous? Hop on a bike or golf cart and head towards the untouched bay marshes for a peek at wildlife and exquisite sunsets. Enjoy miles of bike paths on St. George Island. The island features a six-mile paved bike/walking path that parallels Gulf Beach Drive, the island's main road. Adventure out and explore the island you can ride all the way to St. George Island State Park. Nestled on the eastern end of the island you will find St. George Island State Park, the nine-mile undeveloped shoreline of majestic dunes, bay forest and salt marshes offers variety of tranquil hiking trails, boardwalks and observation platforms. Be sure to pack binoculars as you might catch site of one of the many migratory birds that use St. George Island as a stopover on their journey.
Every May, for more than 115 million years, loggerhead sea turtles who are among the oldest creatures on earth come ashore to dig their nests and lay eggs along the beach. The hatchlings emerge at night and crawl to the gulf, guided by light of the moon. Despite the threat of natural predators to eggs and hatchlings, their prevailing and most critical threats come from mankind. During the summer nesting season, we ask visitors to help these baby turtles make it safely to sea by removing all items from the beach, filling in any man-made holes in the sand and turning off all outdoor lights. Current research statistics indicate that only one hatchling in 5,000 reaches adulthood. In Franklin County, the involved government agencies and dedicated volunteers will continue their commitment to increase these odds. To learn how to adopt a
Sea Turtle Nest click the link.
Franklin County enforces a “Leave No Trace” ordinance to ensure the preservation of the region’s beaches, wildlife, and natural environment. The ordinance prohibits leaving anything on the beach (beyond the dune line) overnight, including chairs, tents, canopies, umbrellas, and beach toys. Help to keep our sandscapes and shorelines clean and clear while protecting beach and marine wildlife by collecting all of your belongings at the end of your day, and properly disposing of all waste.
