Port guide / Florida Panhandle / Florida

Panama City Beach fishing guide

Panama City Beach fishes St. Andrew Bay, Grand Lagoon and the rock jetties at St. Andrews State Park, with two long Gulf piers on Front Beach Road for walk-on anglers. Inshore it is reds, trout, sheepshead, pompano and flounder on the grass flats, bayous and jetties. Offshore, natural limestone bottom and Bay County's public artificial reefs hold snapper, grouper, triggerfish and amberjack, and the Grand Lagoon fleet runs everything from half-day party boats to overnight trips.

Conditions now
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

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.

NOAA tides, Panama City Beach, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Panama City Beach. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Panama City Beach. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Speckled trout	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Good
Sheepshead	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Good
Florida pompano	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Good
Spanish mackerel	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow
King mackerel	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow
Cobia	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Slow
Flounder	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Slow
Red snapper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow
Greater amberjack	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow

Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Locals work the shallow grass flats for reds, and in summer they start early because the shallow water heats up fast.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, October
Trout ride the grass flats in spring and move into the bayous in fall, and harvest is closed in February.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, October
A spring and winter fish around the inlets and rock jetties.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Florida pompano
Peak: April, May, June, October
Pompano show up along the beaches and Gulf piers in spring and again in winter.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spanish mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
Spring and fall around the inlets and off Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller piers.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Both Gulf piers catch kings, and spring kingfish show up for the boats too.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June
Spring is the run, and cobia are on the species list at both Front Beach Road piers and occasionally the St. Andrews State Park pier.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Flounder
Peak: May, June, October
Caught off both Gulf piers, and Florida closes harvest Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August
A summer staple on the natural limestone reefs and Bay County artificial reefs, and Capt. Anderson's runs night trips during snapper season.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack
Peak: April, May, June, July, August
The artificial reefs hold amberjack, though harvest is open only in the short fall season.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

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
Open May 22 to July 31 daily; Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily; Oct. 9 to 22 daily; then weekends only: Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29 (Thanksgiving weekend), 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 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 closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closes Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Open 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, 2026; closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf state waters
Open year-round in state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13; closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
Open Sept. 1, 2026 to 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, 2026, then closed until the next season starts Sept. 1, 2027.
NOAA Fisheries, 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 survey found very low scallop numbers.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Private-boat anglers who keep or target red snapper, gag, red or black grouper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, vermilion snapper and several other reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Survey designation on their license. Charter and headboat customers and anglers under 16 do not. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/state-reef-fish-survey/
Florida manages red drum and spotted seatrout by region. The Panhandle Region runs from the Alabama line east to near Alligator Point in Franklin County and has its own rules. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/
Florida's Gulf state water seasons for red snapper, gag and amberjack are set by FWC and can differ from federal seasons, so check which waters you are in.
FWC set a new lane snapper size and bag limit for Gulf state waters effective April 1, 2026. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Jetty
St. Andrews State Park jetties
The rock jetties at the park are fished for sheepshead, reds and mackerel, and park admission is charged.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Grand Lagoon
The park pier stretches over the lagoon for mackerel, drum and trout, and the charter marinas sit along its shores.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Flats
St. Andrew Bay grass flats
Shallow grass holds trout and reds, best early in the day in summer.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Russell-Fields City Pier
Over 1,500 feet into the Gulf with cobia, kings, Spanish, reds, pompano and flounder.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
M.B. Miller County Pier
About 1,500 feet long with flounder, Spanish and king mackerel and cobia, plus free parking.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Bay County natural and artificial reefs
Limestone bottom holds grouper and snapper, and the county's public reefs add snapper, triggerfish and amberjack; reef coordinates are posted for download.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Panama City Beach
Name	Type	Fee	Where
St. Andrews State Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, FL 32408
St. Andrews State Park pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Paid	4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, FL 32408
Russell-Fields City Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Paid	16101 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL
M.B. Miller County Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Paid	12213 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Panama City Beach
Shop	Where	Phone
Half Hitch Tackle Panama City (opens in a new tab)	2206 Navy Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32408	(850) 234-2621
Russell-Fields Pier bait and tackle (opens in a new tab)	16101 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL	(850) 233-5080
M.B. Miller County Pier bait and tackle shop (opens in a new tab)	12213 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL	(850) 236-3035

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Panama City Beach
Charter	Fishing
Capt. Anderson's Marina deep sea fishing (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Showtime Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Salt Shaker Charters (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Bluewater Connection (Reelistic and Billistic) (opens in a new tab)	Offshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

Bay Point Billfish Open (opens in a new tab)
late June
2027: June 22 to 27

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Panama City Beach, asked and answered

What does it cost to fish the Panama City Beach piers?

Russell-Fields City Pier and M.B. Miller County Pier on Front Beach Road both charge a fee to fish, and both have a bait and tackle shop on the pier. M.B. Miller also has free parking.

When is the best inshore fishing in Panama City Beach?

Spring brings reds, trout, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and pompano to the inlets and flats. Fall is good for Spanish, reds and trout, with trout moving into the bayous. Trout harvest is closed in February.

When is red snapper season off Panama City Beach in 2026?

Private boats got May 22 to July 31 and fall dates set by FWC that run on weekends into January 2027. Federally permitted charter boats fished June 1 to Oct. 26.

Can I get scallops in St. Joseph Bay this year?

No. FWC closed the St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County zone for the 2026 season because a survey found very low numbers.

90 ft, the kit