Florida is well known for its many outdoor activities, and fishing would definitely rank among the more popular options. Whether you have a boat or are fishing from shore, you have several options in the Panama City area to get your fishing fix. Panama City Toyota recommends these five awesome fishing spots in the Panama City Area.
Panama City Marina
There are numerous spots to cast your line from shore at the Panama City Marina, and if you’re looking for mangrove snapper, grouper, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, trout, black drum, and redfish, this is a good spot. There are three gulf-side piers as well as a pier in the Grand Lagoon. Two of these piers, the City Pier and the County Pier, stretch about 1,500 feet from shore, allowing anglers of all types to go way out into the gulf to try their hand at catching one of these species.
You can purchase a single-day fishing license or, if you would rather just observe the action, you can also pay a spectator fee for less.
St. Andrews Park
Another marina you could look into is in the St. Andrews State Park. If you’re looking for catfish or flounder, then this is the place to go. A weighted jig hook that’s baited with either grub or a plastic worm is a good bet here. If you’re looking for a tasty meal, flounder needs to be 12 inches or longer to keep.
There are two fishing piers in St. Andrews State Park: one on the gulf side and one on the Grand Lagoon side. In addition to catfish and flounder on the Grand Lagoon side, you may also be able to net sheepshead, bonito, gag grouper, scamp grouper, vermillion, white snappers, blackfin tuna, and trout. There’s no additional charge beyond the park admission to fish from these two piers.
West Beach Drive
West Beach Drive is a wonderful spot if you’re looking for trout, flounder, and redfish. There isn’t a pier here, so in order to hook your quarry, you will need to wade into the water. A simple spinning rod with a hook and a basic bait is all you need to begin your pursuit of these fish. You might also need some waders or a pair of old shoes to get out into the water.
Russell-Fields City Pier
This pier is a good spot if you’re looking for tarpon, sailfish, redfish, Spanish mackerel, or king mackerel. If it’s mackerel you seek, they are tough fish that require a stout rod and reel to hold up to the fight they will bring. If you want to keep a mackerel, the minimum length is 24 inches. This is a popular place, so try to get there early to get your spot.
Gulf Of Mexico
If you want to get out on a boat, you can find plenty of fish in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Depending on the time of the year, you can expect to catch many different species of fish in many different areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Fishing Seasons
Here are a few pointers for finding and catching in-season fish:
Winter
If you’re fishing in January or February, grouper and red snapper are abundant off inshore reefs in under 100 feet of water. A good call for bait and tackle for these fish would be live shrimp on a rig in the 15-pound class. in January, you can search the rivers and canals for redfish and speckled trout. Live bait or sinking lures are a good bet as you try to catch these fish looking for warmer water.
Spring
As the waters begin to warm up in March, bonito, bluefish, and ladyfish can be found. Late March will bring in the Spanish mackerel as the waters warm further. In the case of a quick warm-up, cobia may also show up mid-March, but they require at least 70-degree water, so that sets a more likely date later in the month.
Right behind the cobia, the king mackerel will arrive at the coast. Anglers begin trolling for the kings in April, but the hottest king mackerel fishing occurs in May and June. Also in May, the speckled trout will return from the canals to the bays over the grass flats. A good choice here would be a topwater plug over these flats in about 4 feet of water.
Summer
July is the best month if billfish are what you are after. Seek them out off the Loop Current at the DeSoto Canyon or other similar structures. Hit the weed line for marlin and sailfish. Grouper and red snapper can now be found in about 90 to 150 feet of water around reefs and other offshore structures. Fish around a dock in July, or head to the top of the pass in August to catch redfish.
August also provides another great opportunity to catch some king mackerel. They’ll run a bit smaller than those you’re able to catch in the spring, but the numbers are far greater, which is a pretty good tradeoff.
Fall
Come September, the flounder will move from the bays out into about 60 feet of water to begin spawning. Early on in this migration, try a grub or minnow along sand holes in the bay. In late September, try a minnow suspended down by shallow inshore reefs. Also in September, the speckled trout make their return to the rivers and canals by St. Andrews Bay. Use live bait and quietly fish this area to land the big one.
September and October also feature the return of grouper and red snapper to the shallower inshore reefs. Use a good bass fishing lures and live shrimp and seek them out in 60 feet of water.
Panama City Toyota invites you to grab your fishing gear and head out to one of these awesome fishing spots in the Panama City area. You’ll be glad you did. If you need a new ride to tow your boat and gear, schedule a test drive at our showroom. For any other vehicle needs, service appointment with us.
