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Port guide / Florida Panhandle / Florida
Mexico Beach fishing guide
Mexico Beach is a small Gulf-front town with no bay of its own: the fishing is the surf, the city canal and its jetties, and the MBARA artificial reefs a short run offshore. Port St. Joe, the nearest guide, works the sheltered grass flats of St. Joseph Bay, while Mexico Beach boats launch at the city ramp and idle out the canal straight into open Gulf water for kings, Spanish, red snapper and grouper. Pompano, whiting and reds come right off the beach, and the city pier lost to Hurricane Michael in 2018 is slated to be rebuilt by 2027.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Mexico Beach. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, St. Joseph Point, St. Joseph Bay, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Panama City, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Mexico Beach. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Bluewater Outriggers Fishing Reports (opens in a new tab) The Apalachicola Times Forgotten Coast Fishing Report (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Mexico Beach. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red snapper | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| King mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Florida pompano | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Good |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Whiting | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Gag grouper | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Greater amberjack | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August
The MBARA reefs right out front make this one of the shortest snapper runs on the coast; keep them only on the open 2026 days listed below.
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
On calm warm-weather days locals troll the buoy lines just offshore, and the MBARA Kingfish Tournament fishes out of the city ramp every July.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
Same close buoy lines as the kings, and diving birds give the schools away.
Florida pompano
Peak: April, May, June, October
A surf fish here, best early in the morning or around sunset.
Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Caught in the surf and around the canal and its jetties.
Whiting
Peak: May, June, July, August
A steady surf fish on the town beach along with pompano and reds.
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June
Spring is best, and offshore bottom trips pick them up along with grouper and snapper.
Gag grouper
Peak: April, May, June, July, August
Found on the reefs and natural bottom offshore, but 2026 harvest was open only Sept. 1 to 30.
Greater amberjack
Peak: April, May, June, July, August
An offshore fish a short ride out of the canal; 2026 harvest closed Oct. 14.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Red snapper, private recreational, Gulf state and federal waters
Summer season May 22 to July 31 daily. Fall season Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily, Oct. 9 to 22 daily, then Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29, Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing Florida Gulf state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (charter boats with a federal reef fish permit)
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026 and closed 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state and federal waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closed Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf
Open year-round in state waters; in federal waters closed Feb. 1 to March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, state and federal waters off Florida
Closed every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Panhandle Region
Closed in February; open March 1 through Jan. 31.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bay scallops, St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County zone
Closed to harvest for the 2026 season after a summer survey found very low scallop numbers. The zone starts at the Mexico Beach Canal and runs east to the west tip of St. Vincent Island. Bay County waters west of the canal are not in any open harvest zone.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Reef
MBARA artificial reefs
Since 1997 the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association has deployed more than 315 reefs made of over 4,000 structures off Mexico Beach.
- Jetty
Mexico Beach Canal jetties
With the pier gone, the bulkhead around the canal and the jetties at its mouth are the go-to spots to fish from land.
- Channel
Canal Park
An easy, low-key place to fish the canal, good with kids; the city asks that no fish carcasses or leftover bait go in the canal.
- Beach
Mexico Beach surf
Pompano, whiting and redfish right off the sand, best early morning and around sunset.
- Offshore
Nearshore buoy lines
On smooth days run just offshore and troll near the buoys for Spanish and king mackerel.
- Offshore
Offshore bottom and blue water
Deeper water is a short ride out for amberjack, kings and wahoo, and bottom fishing produces grouper, snapper and cobia.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Mexico Beach Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | Just off US Hwy 98 on the Mexico Beach canal (N 29 57.223, W 85 25.503), Mexico Beach, FL |
| Frank Pate Park boat launch (Port St. Joe) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | US Hwy 98 at US Hwy 71, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 |
| Frank Pate Park fishing pier (Port St. Joe) (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | US Hwy 98 at US Hwy 71, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (2)
- MarinaLive bait
Mexico Beach Marina & Outfitters
Bait: live bait, frozen bait
3904 Hwy 98, Mexico Beach, FL 32456
The town's marina and bait shop, with ethanol-free gas, live and frozen bait, tackle, charts and MBARA reef cards; off-season hours start at 7 am CT.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Bluewater Outriggers
Bait: live shrimp
121 W Highway 98, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
About 20 minutes east in Port St. Joe; a 13,000 square foot outdoor store open from 6 am ET daily (until 4 pm on Sunday) that posts a weekly fishing report.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Alleykat Bay Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Charisma Charters (opens in a new tab) | Offshore |
| Mexico Beach Fishing Company (Capt. Wade Guilford) (opens in a new tab) | Offshore |
| Panhandle Adventures (Capt. Daniel Weeks) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| FloriDaze Adventures (Capt. Mitch Coleman) (opens in a new tab) | Offshore |
| Panama City Inshore (Capt. Kevin Lolley) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
MBARA Kingfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually late July
2026: July 24 captains' party, July 25 fishing and weigh-in at the Mexico Beach public boat ramp (30th annual)GollyWhopper Classic (opens in a new tab)
annual; the tourism site does not list the month
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Mexico Beach, asked and answered
Is there a fishing pier in Mexico Beach?
Not right now. The city pier was wiped out by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and it is slated to be rebuilt by 2027. In the meantime fish the canal bulkhead at Canal Park or the jetties at the canal mouth.
What does it cost to launch at the Mexico Beach boat ramp?
A daily permit is $25 from the vending station at the ramp. Annual permits are free for one per Mexico Beach property owner household and $200 for everyone else, and they expire Jan. 31.
How many artificial reefs are off Mexico Beach?
MBARA has deployed more than 315 reefs made of over 4,000 structures since 1997, and the Mexico Beach Marina sells MBARA reef cards with the locations.
When is king mackerel season at Mexico Beach?
Kings are best May through September, with March, April, October and November also fishable. On calm days troll the buoy lines just offshore, and the MBARA Kingfish Tournament runs in late July.
Can I go scalloping at Mexico Beach in 2026?
No. The St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County zone, which starts at the Mexico Beach Canal, is closed for 2026, and Bay County waters west of the canal are not an open harvest zone.
Where can I buy live bait in Mexico Beach?
Mexico Beach Marina & Outfitters sells live and frozen bait in town. Bluewater Outriggers in Port St. Joe, about 20 minutes east, carries live shrimp.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Mexico Beach
Sources for this guide (15), last checked 2026-10-27
- bluewateroutriggers.com/pages/frontpage (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/apalachicola/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/port-st-joe/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- cityofportstjoe.com/frank-pate-park.cfm (opens in a new tab)
- mbara.org/kingfish-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- mexicobeach.com/things-to-do/fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/flounder/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/groupers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- mexicobeachmarina.com/fishing-mexico-beach.cfm (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Mexico Beach
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.