Choctawhatchee Bay is an ecological and activities-based focal point of both locals of the Destin area, as well as its visitors. It is home to an array of wildlife, with some of its plants and fish protected due to being endangered. And with numerous tributaries, bayous, natural forest areas, parks, unscathed beachfronts, fishing spots, and areas to cruise and explore, it plays a major role in the lives of activity-seekers year-round.
Choctawhatchee River
While the Choctawhatchee Bay is fed by numerous freshwater streams, springs, and rivers, one of the primary contributors of freshwater is the Choctawhatchee River, for which the bay got its name. Located on the east side of the bay, the 174-mile long river, beginning in Alabama, picks up the flow of other small rivers and streams along the way, which together provide drainage for over 5000 square miles of land. (1) The river itself provides a great close-by alternative to fishing in the salt water. Fishing in these waters has been known to bring in catfish, bass, mullet, bream, and many other fish species. (2)
Bayous of Choctawhatchee Bay
There are quite a few bayous in the bay which are fun to explore by boat, or paddle board, canoe, or kayak. Since there are so many, we’ll focus here on the larger ones and separate them by location.
Bay side of Destin
Joe’s Bayou
Joe’s Bayou is just around the corner to the east of Crab Island. If you enter the bayou from the bay, you’ll see a number of private docks, Mattie Kelly Park and Nature Walk and if you keep meandering up the bayou, you’ll come to Destin Park. Just to the east is Destin’s FBO airport.
Indian Bayou and Hogtown Bayou
Indian Bayou is the next large bayou as you head east in the bay, which is surrounded by houses with docks, but then narrows a lot as it finishes in an undeveloped section of land.
Horseshoe Bayou
Continue east on the bay toward the Hwy 331 bridge and you’ll come to Horseshoe Bayou. Here you’ll find Baytowne Wharf, a happening little village of shops, restaurants and activities.
Bayous on the Mainland Side of Bay
Boggy Bayou
Across from Destin, surrounded by Niceville and Valparaiso is Boggy Bayou, where you’ll find several marinas with boat-up restaurants, some beachfront parks and at the most inland point, the mouth of Turkey Creek.
If you happen to be in the area on the 4th of July, they do an amazing fireworks display with music over Boggy Bayou each year. This is a picture that I took across the bay at a marina as they did their fireworks finale.
Rocky Bayou
To the east of Boggy Bayou is Rocky Bayou. Here you’ll find a marina with dockside restaurant, and around the corner after going under the bridge is a favorite spot for water skiers, tubers, jet skiers, and boaters who just like to cruise. This part of the bayou is also home to Rocky Bayou State Park (or Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park), which has several beach swim areas, a boat launch, an RV camp site, kayak and canoe rentals, picnic tables, a children’s playground, and a nature trail.
Cinco Bayou
If you continue to head west in the bay, you’ll pass land on the mainland side of the bay which is dedicated to Eglin Air Force Base and patches of beach areas specifically for recreational use of our military. Eventually, you’ll come to Cinco Bayou, in the Fort Walton Beach area, which has a lot of little fingers that can be fun to explore.
What To Do in Choctawhatchee Bay
Besides exploring, there are many other ways people enjoy the bay.
- Except when there’s a fair amount of chop, you’ll almost always see paddle boarders getting exercise, exploring tributaries, or even participating in one of the many organized paddle boarding races in the area.
- Jetting around on jet skis is another favorite, along with wakeboarding and waterskiing and tubing.
- Of course, few people have frequented the bay without a visit to Crab Island, where you can socialize, snorkel, and play on a beautiful sandbar just on the bay side of Marler Bridge.
- Just on the bay side of Okaloosa Island is a hot spot for kitesurfing. The water is usually very clear, and can provide a perfect place to catch the wind and go for a ride.
- Finding and enjoying one of the many boat-up restaurants is another favorite pastime of locals and visitors alike. There are so many interesting restaurants with fabulous views of the water and the sunset that it can be hard to pick between them.
- There are also some great spots to pull up and go for a swim in the bay. There are boat-up parks, restaurants, and sandbars (like Redneck Crab Island) that are great places to swim and play.
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) goes right through the Choctawhatchee Bay.
If you were to start at Pensacola Bay, you’d travel east through Santa Rosa Sound until you reach Choctawhatchee Bay. Travel to the east end of the bay where you will find a cut-through to Panama City. Nicknamed ‘the Ditch,” this stretch of waterway may feel just like the name indicates, that you’re in a ditch with deep land masses on both sides. After roughly 20 miles, you’ll reach Panama City’s West Bay, which becomes Grand Lagoon.
Final Thoughts
While Choctawhatchee Bay is a happening spot for activities and observation, there are common questions that have answers that are sometimes hard to find. I thought I’d end this post with answers to some of these questions:
- Are there sharks in Choctawhatchee Bay?
Yes, sharks have been seen and caught in the bay. Interestingly, the bull sharks are fairly common.
The water in the bay is a mixture of salt water (which has more density) and freshwater (which has less density than salt water.) Most sharks need more salinity in order to keep their body positioning in the water and keep them from sinking. Bull sharks have an anatomy which enables them to handle more freshwater in the mixture without a problem, so where many sharks prefer to stay in the Gulf, Bull sharks may tend to wander into the brackish water.(3)
- What kind of jellyfish are in the bay?
There are several types of jellyfish that can be seen in Choctawhatchee Bay and the coastline of the Gulf around Destin. To know more about them, visit our post on “The 6 Jellyfish That Can Be Found in Destin, FL.
- Can you swim in the bay?
Yes. You’ll see a lot of swimmers/waders at Crab Island, where it’s easy to see the shallow sandy floor. While you might see an occasional swimmer here or there in the bay, most swimmers and waders will be found near a shoreline close to a sandbar or where there’s clear visibility. Some like to be able to see around themselves while swimming, but some just want to be out of the way of the many boats and jet skis that use this space, as well.
- Are there alligators in the bay?
You may not see any, but there are some there, usually tucked away up in the marsh or in the thick natural wetlands. They’re usually pretty skiddish and usually won’t go out of their way for any type of confrontation unless they feel cornered.
Do you have a special spot in Choctawhatchee Bay that others should know about? We’d love to know! Drop us a comment if you want to share!