AlabamaFishing Atlas

The Apalachicola River: 106 Miles From Jim Woodruff Dam to the Gulf

Florida's largest river by flow. The state says the best fishing is at the two ends: the tailrace below Lake Seminole and the tidal delta at Apalachicola.

Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated

The Apalachicola River runs 106 miles from Jim Woodruff Dam at Chattahoochee, Florida, to the Gulf at Apalachicola. Florida's wildlife agency says the best fishing is the upper river below the dam and the lower river near the bay.

Lakes and tailwaters on the Apalachicola River
Map of Alabama showing Lake SeminoleAutauga CountyBaldwin CountyBarbour CountyBibb CountyBlount CountyBullock CountyButler CountyCalhoun CountyChambers CountyCherokee CountyChilton CountyChoctaw CountyClarke CountyClay CountyCleburne CountyCoffee CountyColbert CountyConecuh CountyCoosa CountyCovington CountyCrenshaw CountyCullman CountyDale CountyDallas CountyDeKalb CountyElmore CountyEscambia CountyEtowah CountyFayette CountyFranklin CountyGeneva CountyGreene CountyHale CountyHenry CountyHouston CountyJackson CountyJefferson CountyLamar CountyLauderdale CountyLawrence CountyLee CountyLimestone CountyLowndes CountyMacon CountyMadison CountyMarengo CountyMarion CountyMarshall CountyMobile CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMorgan CountyPerry CountyPickens CountyPike CountyRandolph CountyRussell CountyShelby CountySt. Clair CountySumter CountyTalladega CountyTallapoosa CountyTuscaloosa CountyWalker CountyWashington CountyWilcox CountyWinston CountyLake SeminoleLake Seminole
County lines: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (2023). Lake positions: Atlas lake records.

Apalachicola River — formed where the Chattahoochee and Flint meet in Lake Seminole

Before you go

This is the water that leaves Lake Seminole. Florida's wildlife agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stock striped bass and sunshine bass in the lower river every year. Local contacts the agency lists: Riverview Bait & Tackle in Chattahoochee, 850-663-2462; Bay City Marina, 850-653-9294, and Scipio Creek Marina, 850-653-8030, in Apalachicola; Fisherman's Choice in Eastpoint, 850-670-8808.

Segment 1

Upper river: Jim Woodruff Dam tailrace to Ocheesee

The upper river is driven by the discharge from Lake Seminole. Shore access is good from Jim Woodruff Dam down to Race Shoal, 0.9 miles, on the east bank, and from the dam to Highway 90, 0.6 miles, on the west bank. Above Highway 90 the bank is Corps of Engineers property and includes a fishing catwalk beside the powerhouse. Boat landings are at Chattahoochee, Sneads, Aspalaga (navigation mile 98.9) and Ocheesee (navigation mile 93.9).

Species on this reach

Striped bass and sunshine bass

Pick up in the tailrace and upper river as the water cools from late October or early November. Early and late they school near the surface and take topwater plugs and crankbaits; by day, bottom fishing with live shad, shiners or small eels does better.

Largemouth bass

On the state's species list for the river.

Bluegill and redear sunfish

On the state's species list for the river.

Access points

  • Neal Landing Public Boat Ramp — Blountstown, Calhoun County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 30.42375, -85.03274.
  • Redd's Landing Public Boat Ramp — Blountstown, Calhoun County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.51947, -84.99433.
  • Apalachicola National Forest - Smith Creek Landing — Eastpoint, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.91851, -85.01437.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Van Horn Landing Kayak Launch — Eastpoint, Franklin County. Hand launch. GPS 29.89609, -85.01222.
  • Clyde Hopkins Park Boat Ramp — Chattahoochee, Gadsden County. 3-lane ramp. GPS 30.70080, -84.85729.
  • Torreya State Park - Aspalaga Road Boat Ramp (Small Boats Only) — Quincy, Gadsden County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.62699, -84.90051.
  • Fisherman's Landing RV Park — Wewahitchka, Gulf County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.89965, -85.06410.
  • Gaskin Park Public Boat Ramp — Wewahitchka, Gulf County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 30.13246, -85.14252.
  • Howard's Creek Landing — Wewahitchka, Gulf County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 29.89805, -85.06008.
  • Willis Landing Public Boat Ramp — Wewahitchka, Gulf County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 29.97600, -85.07229.
  • Gulf Power Boat Ramp — Sneads, Jackson County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.67499, -84.87736.
  • Ocheesee Landing on Apalachicola River — Grand Ridge, Jackson County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.58217, -84.96537.
  • Beaverdam Creek Tract - Harry Donar Landing — Bristol, Liberty County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.51516, -84.99137.
  • Bristol Public Boat Ramp — Bristol, Liberty County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 30.43980, -84.98633.
  • Estiffanulga Park Public Boat Ramp — Bristol, Liberty County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.30801, -85.04004.

Seasonal notes

The state's forecast is for fall: striped and sunshine bass turn on in the tailrace as water temperatures drop starting late October or early November. No dated catch report is published that we can cite.

Regulations

Striped bass, sunshine bass and white bass: 20 a day in total, of which only 3 may be striped bass, and each striped bass must be 18 inches or longer. No size limit on sunshine or white bass.

Always verify current statewide and lake-specific rules at /regulations/ before fishing.

Segment 2

Lower river and delta: Apalachicola, East River, St. Marks River

The lower river is the main channel plus the distributaries that form the delta: the St. Marks River, the Little St. Marks River and East River. Bank access is only from the public docks on the Apalachicola waterfront and the City Dock, called Ten-foot Hole, under the Highway 98 bridge. Public boat access is at the City Dock, Gardner Landing on East River, Cash Creek off Highway 65, Magnolia Bluff at the east end of the Highway 98 bridge in Eastpoint, and the end of Bluff Road in Box-R Wildlife Management Area.

Species on this reach

Striped bass and sunshine bass

Stocked every year. Bigger fish leave their cool-water refuges and spread through the lower river from late October. Bottom-fish the deep channels with bucktail jigs or crankbaits tipped with live or fresh shrimp; outgoing tides at the river mouths and slack tides at bridge pilings give up large stripers.

Largemouth bass

Fall is normally good. Dipping live shrimp along the steeper, grass-lined banks of the St. Marks and East rivers is one of the popular methods.

Speckled trout, redfish and sheepshead

Move into the lower reaches as the water cools. Bucktails, spoons, crankbaits and live or dead shrimp all produce.

Access points

  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Butcher Pen Landing Kayak Launch — Eastpoint, Franklin County. Hand launch. GPS 29.80333, -84.96700.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Doyle Creek Landing Public Boat Ramp — Eastpoint, Franklin County. Hand launch. GPS 29.82362, -84.90455.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Gardeners Landing Public Boat Ramp — Eastpoint, Franklin County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 29.81736, -84.98718.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Graham Creek Public Boat Ramp — Eastpoint, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.85327, -84.97325.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Sand Beach Recreation Area Kayak Launch — Eastpoint, Franklin County. Hand launch. GPS 29.78367, -84.91088.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Whiskey George Creek Landing — Eastpoint, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.82585, -84.89797.
  • Henry Abercrombie Jr. Public Boat Ramp — Apalachicola, Franklin County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 29.76838, -85.04340.
  • Indian Creek Public Park and Boat Ramps (North Bayshore Drive) — Eastpoint, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.73927, -84.89867.
  • Indian Creek Public Park and Boat Ramps (Old Ferry Dock) — Eastpoint, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.73819, -84.90020.
  • John B Meyer Harbor House — Apalachicola, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.73423, -84.99406.
  • Scipio Creek Marina — Apalachicola, Franklin County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.73211, -84.99013.
  • Tate's Hell State Forest - Miller Landing Day Use Area Canoe Access — Eastpoint, Franklin County. Hand launch. GPS 29.78663, -84.87156.
  • Tate's Hell State Forest - Whiskey George Creek Primitive Access (Smaller Boats Only) — Eastpoint, Franklin County. Hand launch. GPS 29.82944, -84.88481.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Misfit Landing Boat Ramp — Port Saint Joe, Gulf County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 29.83435, -85.06497.
  • Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Saul's Creek Canoe Launch — Port Saint Joe, Gulf County. Hand launch. GPS 29.81768, -85.06472.

Seasonal notes

Fall is the season the state writes about: stripers and sunshine bass improve in the lower river and the Intracoastal Waterway, largemouth fishing is normally good, and saltwater fish push in as it cools. No dated catch report is published that we can cite.

Regulations

Striped bass, sunshine bass and white bass: 20 a day in total, of which only 3 may be striped bass, and each striped bass must be 18 inches or longer. No size limit on sunshine or white bass. Saltwater species caught in the lower river follow Florida's saltwater rules.

Always verify current statewide and lake-specific rules at /regulations/ before fishing.

Fishing regulations, generation schedules, and water conditions change. Alabama Fishing Atlas provides informational content only. Verify all regulations with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before fishing, keeping any fish, or launching watercraft. We are not liable for decisions made based on information published here. Full disclaimer →

Data sources

  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Apalachicola River — https://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/sites-forecasts/nw/apalachicola-river/ (description, access, limits and forecast; checked 2026-11-12)
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Boat Ramp Inventory — https://gis.myfwc.com (ramp names, positions, lanes; retrieved 2026-11-12)

Data last reviewed: 2026-11-12