Perdido Key Florida: Shelling, Fishing, and Boating

Perdido Key Florida: Shelling, Fishing, and Boating

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  • Is Perdido Key in Florida or Alabama?
    • Perdido Key, located between Pensacola and Orange Beach in Florida is a small strip of white beaches and crystal-blue waters.

Perdido Key is a barrier island off the coast of Florida. It is located between Pensacola, Florida, and Orange Beach, Alabama, and is known for its white-sand beaches, which are a popular spot for boating, swimming, fishing, and shelling.

It offers natural beauty and unspoiled beaches. If you’d like to learn about the history of the area, you can also take a city tour and take in the city’s culture.

The name “Perdido” means “lost” in Spanish and Portuguese.

The island is also home to the Perdido Key State Park, which offers camping, picnicking, and hiking.

Perdido Key State Park

The park is a popular destination for families and is a great place for kids to learn about nature.

Perdido Key State Park offers many activities including swimming and surfing.

The park also features a boat launch and bike trails. It is also a popular place to enjoy the local wildlife, especially birds. This park is open to the public, but there are no lifeguards.

Be sure to check with the park’s rules before hitting the water.

Perdido Key State Park
Photo Credit: Ebyabe

Perdido Key State Park is surrounded by the Gulf Islands National Seashore, an area known for its tranquil beaches. Its dunes are white and are dotted with sea oats.

You can also enjoy primitive camping year-round in Johnson Beach.

This state park is a great place to go swimming, shelling, birding, or just relaxing by the sea.

Perdido Key State Park is home to miles of white-sand beaches. The park is also located near beach shops and restaurants. Families will enjoy the unspoiled wilderness here.

The park is open from 8 am until sunset.

The beaches are also popular for sunset viewing. You can spend a whole day relaxing and enjoying the beach or plan a day full of activities.

There are lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day and there are pavilions for rent. However, pets are not allowed on the beach.

What is Perdido Key Known For?

Perdido Key is also known for its natural springs.

There used to be more than 300 of these springs in Perdido Bay. The natural springs were so numerous that they could be crossed by foot.

The springs were so numerous that they affected the construction of the Lillian bridge. As a result, the bridge engineers were appalled when they saw that the pilings were sinking into the water. Fortunately, they devised a solution.

Today, Perdido Key is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

  • Perdido Key is home to many species of shorebirds. They nest here and feed offshore.
  • Monarch butterflies are also common in the area. Some of these butterflies migrate north for breeding.
  • In addition to shorebirds, sea oats are also found on the island.

Bird watching is a highlight of the island.

Perdido Key Florida birdwatching

The countless shorebirds, including resident species and seasonal northern birds, make Perdido Key a bird lover’s paradise.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore is the largest protected seashore in the country and is the first stop for hundreds of migrating birds.

There are many places to eat and shop on Perdido Key.

There are plenty of restaurants that feature outdoor dining and offer a view of the ocean. Some of these places also feature live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Perdido Key State Park shelling

Shelling at Perdido Key State Park is an excellent way to enjoy the beach and spend some quality time with the family.

The best time to shell is during low tide, as the tide is constantly changing, bringing new shells to the shore.

Avoid shelling in rough waters, as rough waters can move the shells to the shore.

Perdido Key State Park offers a variety of activities.

Many people enjoy surf fishing.

  • You can catch redfish, pompano, whiting, flounder, and more.
  • Check the park’s rules before fishing.

The beach also features gorgeous sunsets and sunrises.

Perdido Key State Park is located near the Alabama-Florida border.

From Alabama, you can drive less than five minutes to access the beach.

Perdido Key State Park has white sand beaches and coastal dunes, but there are no lifeguards at the beach. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.

You can also enjoy hiking and biking in the state park.

Located on the Gulf Coast, Perdido Key State Park is a perfect destination for a beach vacation.

You can enjoy shelling, fishing, swimming, or just relaxing on the beach.

The park’s amenities include plenty of parking and designated areas for dogs.

Additionally, it also features covered pavilions, grills, and outdoor showers. You can also enjoy seasonal lifeguards.

Perdido Key State Park Fishing

The park is open to the public and is a popular place for fishing.

Fishing in this park is particularly popular during the winter months when the weather is warm and the water is clear.

If you are looking for fishing in Perdido Key, you’ll find plenty of spots for both deep sea fishing and shallow water fishing.

There are plenty of places to catch both bluefish and pompano from the shore. Dead shrimp and sand flies are the best baits for these fish, though artificial lures are also good choices.

Perdido Key State Park fishing
Photo Credit: Rex Hammock
  • Red Snapper fishing is the most popular at Perdido Key, but you can also target other species, like Mangrove Snapper and Vermillion Snapper, as well.
  • If you’d like to try something different, you can also fish in the Gulf for Groupers, which make fantastic table fare.
  • The most common Grouper species to catch along the reefs are Gag Grouper, though Snowy Grouper and Scamp Grouper are exciting to catch.

Perdido Key is also home to an endangered species of beach mouse, the Perdido Key Beach Mouse.

You can see these mice in sparsely vegetated dunes above the high tide line, and in densely wooded dunes further inland. Perdido Key is also a beach lover’s dream, with a sixteen-mile-long white sand beach.

Sixty percent of the island is protected by federal and state lands.

Perdido Key State Park is an excellent destination for fishing enthusiasts. Fishing in this park can be rewarding and fun, but you should also follow the FWC regulations and find a spot where you can safely fish.

Remember to check the regulations carefully to avoid serious violations. You may also want to bring a fishing license.

Perdido Key State Park Boating

Perdido Key State Park is an excellent location for boating and water activities. This state park is located 15 miles southwest of Pensacola.

Whether you are looking for a quiet and relaxing day on the water or a thrilling adventure for the entire family, Perdido Key State Park is a great destination.

Perdido Key is an easy drive from downtown Pensacola, Florida. It’s open every day from 8 a.m. until sunset and offers many areas to explore.

You’ll find boat ramps near Fort McRae, which is a historic military fort. It was built to protect the nearby city of Pensacola. You can also observe the Blue Angels practicing from this area.

You’ll find a number of great fishing spots along the waters of Perdido Key.

Kayaking is another great option. The Perdido River is 63 miles long and forms the western boundary of Florida and Alabama.

In its lower reaches, it’s a blackwater stream that is rich in wildlife. In the lower reaches, you can find endangered gopher tortoises and pitcher plant bogs.

Atlantic white cedar trees make their homes in this river system. The river is largely undeveloped, so you can see a diverse range of birds, fish, and other animals.

Perdido Key State Park Lodging

Perdido Key State Park Lodging is a great place to stay while you’re visiting Perdido Key, Florida.

The state park offers a variety of lodging options, from hotels, and camping to cabins and even beach houses.

Whether you’re looking for a place to pitch a tent and rough it for a few nights or you want to rent a beach house for the week, Perdido Key State Park Lodging has you covered.

The temperature in Perdido Key is typically in the seventies year-round.

The highs in July can reach ninety degrees, while the lows in January can be as low as 40 degrees.

This makes it ideal for outdoor activities throughout the year. However, visitors are encouraged to wear sun protection when spending time outdoors, especially during the warmest months of July and August.

The Perdido Key State Park is a natural beauty, offering a wide variety of recreational opportunities.

You can spend time exploring sand dunes, wetlands and a wide variety of animal species.

There are also boat launches in the area.

Is Perdido Key a Crowded Beach?

Perdido Key offers great weather year-round. Winter months are popular with snowbirds who take advantage of the monthly rates that are offered.

Winter visitors can enjoy the beaches in less crowded conditions.

The winter months are also a good time to rent a vacation rental home.

Perdido Key is not a crowded beach like Destin. However, it can get crowded near the condos and Indigo Beach. There are plenty of family-friendly resorts here. In addition, you’ll find posh condos and upscale restaurants.

Is Perdido Key a Crowded Beach
Photo Credit: Infrogmation of New Orleans

One of the main reasons to visit Perdido Key is because it offers pristine beaches and lots of outdoor activities. You can hike, go fishing, or even watch wildlife.

You’ll find plenty to keep yourself busy on the beach without being overwhelmed by tourists. In addition, you’ll find a number of other things to do on the island.

You can choose from eight restaurants and bars on Perdido Key.

Some of them specialize in seafood and oysters, while others offer American and Mexican fare. Florabama, a 50-year-old restaurant and bar, is one of the most popular hotspots on the island.

It’s located right on the Florida-Alabama border, and features live music and a mullet-toss competition.

Perdido Key is a small island off the coast of Florida. Because of its small size, it offers an important habitat to several animal species. In particular, the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse lives on the island.

The mice feed on sea oat seeds and other grass seeds. These creatures are endangered because of the destruction of their habitats and food sources by hurricanes.

Perdido Key also offers historical spots and museums.

If you’re planning on spending the day in the area, you might want to visit the Naval Air Museum. This museum is a must-see for any history buff.

You can also visit the Historic Pensacola Village and Fort Pickens, which are military forts built to protect Pensacola in the 1800s.

During the day, you can see dolphins swimming along the shore.

In the evenings, you can see eagles and ospreys, which circle the Gulf in search of food.

Other birds that can be seen are the graceful herons and the brown pelicans.

Wrapping Up

Perdido Key is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. It’s known for its natural beauty and the dolphins that call the island home.

The key is also home to a variety of wildlife, making it a perfect place for nature lovers.

The state park also offers a variety of activities, from shelling, hiking, boating, and biking trails to fishing and swimming. Shelling, fishing, and boating are all popular activities here.

You can also see ospreys and eagles in the area as they circle for food. Other wildlife you can observe include majestic herons and brown pelicans.

The beaches are white and the water is crystal clear.

What more could you ask for?

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation or an adventure-filled getaway, Perdido Key has something for everyone.

So come on down to Perdido Key and enjoy all that the state park has to offer!

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