The 24th annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic takes place June 17 - 21, 2026.
Timed to coincide with the peak of the Gulf Coast’s blue marlin season, and located at the South’s number-one ranked resort destination, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort sets the new precedent for world-class sportfishing tournaments.
The 2nd Annual Reeling in the Emerald Coast - Conservation Day is coming to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026. This free family event, hosted by the park and Walton County 4-H, combines outdoor adventure with hands-on learning for the next generation of coastal stewards.
Get your lines ready—something exciting is coming to SoWal: the first-ever Battle of the Bayou Fishing Tournament, benefiting Point Washington Medical Clinic - it's a brand-new fundraising event benefiting the free, volunteer-driven primary care clinic serving uninsured and underinsured residents across the Florida Panhandle.
It's time to celebrate all things Stinky's!
Join in the fun Saturday, March 28 from 4 - 10PM to celebrate 19 YEARS and kick off the annual Stinky's Pompano Tournament. You do not want to miss this celebration packed full of good eats, tournament information and live music.
Fishing is more than just a past time in South Walton – it’s a way of life!
In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, South Walton is home to 17 fresh and brackish coastal dune lakes as well as the Choctawhatchee Bay & River, and its many tributaries including Black Creek.
There is great fishing on the Emerald Coast. You can easily outfit yourself, get a guide or charter a boat, or show up at the dock and go with a group. If you’re on a boat with a pro - they’ll have all the gear and licenses for you.
You see them everywhere - at the beach, in the bay and on the coastal dune lakes. Stand Up Paddleboards have boomed in popularity in just a few short years, becoming a popular way for people to have fun and explore the water in a unique way. SoWal has certainly seen Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUPing) grow and flourish right here on our own coast, but it's not surprising.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on the western end of Scenic 30A should be at the top of your must do list. No visit to South Walton is complete without seeing our masterpiece of a park, where wild coastal forest and serene dune lakes meet the glorious Gulf.
We love the snow-white quartz sands of SoWal beaches that squeak when we walk on them with bare feet, the emerald green and turquoise waters of the Gulf; a bay pregnant with fish and oysters; the delta of the Choctawhatchee River; our 18,000 acres of forest, parks and preserves; plus our unique coastal dune lakes that make South Walton one of the most desirable places on earth to live and visit.
Hunting for good food and good times in SoWal? Then make Stinky’s Bait Shack your destination.
Stinky’s Bait Shack is located on Scenic 30A in Dune Allen, next door to Stinky's Fish Camp restaurant. Stinky's Bait Shack is the only place you can grab everything you could possibly need for a day on the water while not forgetting the real essentials - breakfast, coffee, and a Bloody Mary to really get you going!
