Fishing in Panama City Beach: What Is Biting Each Month
A guest asked us last spring whether it was worth packing rods for a week in June. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on what you are hoping to catch, because the fishing here changes character every six weeks or so. What is thick in April is gone by July, and the fish that make October the best month on this coast are nowhere near the beach in January.
So here is the month by month version, written for people staying a week rather than for tournament anglers. It covers what is actually running, whether you can catch it from the sand or need a boat, and where to go from our end of the beach.
The three ways to fish here
From the sand. Free, no license needed for Florida residents fishing from shore in most cases, and non residents can buy a short term saltwater license online in about five minutes. The beach access at the end of our street works fine. Surf fishing is a morning and evening activity, not a midday one.
From a pier or jetty. The M.B. Miller County Pier and the Russell Fields Pier at Pier Park both charge a small fee and provide the license coverage. The St Andrews State Park jetties on the east end are the local favorite, and the rock structure holds fish that the open beach does not.
From a boat. Charters run out of Grand Lagoon and Treasure Island Marina at the east end, roughly 25 to 35 minutes from Sundial Suites. Half day inshore trips typically run $500 to $700 for a small group. Full day offshore for snapper or grouper is generally $1,200 and up. Book well ahead for June and July.
Winter: January and February
The slowest stretch of the year, and nobody local pretends otherwise. Water temperature drops into the upper 50s and low 60s and most of the summer species have moved off. What you can still get is sheepshead around the jetties and pier pilings, which is genuinely good eating and a fun fight on light tackle, plus black drum and the occasional redfish in the bay.
If you are here in January, fish the structure, not the open beach. Fiddler crabs and live shrimp are the bait that matters.
March: the season turns
The first real month. Pompano show up along the surf as the water warms through the mid 60s and they are the reason you see people with long rods and sand spikes on the beach at sunrise. Sand fleas dug from the wet sand right where you are standing are the bait, and they are free.
Sheepshead spawning also peaks around the jetties in March, which makes it the single best sheepshead month of the year. Spanish mackerel begin to trickle in near the end of the month.
April and May: the best surf fishing of the year
If you specifically want to catch fish from the beach in front of where you are staying, come in April or May. Pompano runs are at their strongest, whiting are everywhere, Spanish mackerel are thick and hitting silver spoons, and redfish and bluefish are working the trough.
Cobia migrate past the beach through April, sight fished from towers and piers, which is a whole culture here worth watching even if you are not participating. Offshore, red snapper anticipation builds toward the season opener.
These two months are also the reason we tell people the shoulder season is the best time to visit generally. The water is warm enough, the crowds have not arrived, and the fish are cooperating.
June and July: offshore is the story
Surf fishing gets tougher as water temperatures climb and the beach fills with swimmers. The action moves out. Red snapper season for private recreational anglers usually opens in early June and runs through summer, and that is what most charter boats are booked solid for. Gag grouper, amberjack, triggerfish and mahi are all in play offshore.
Inshore, target the very early morning. Speckled trout and redfish work the grass flats in St Andrews Bay before the sun and the boat traffic get up. By nine in the morning in July, you are better off in the pool.
King mackerel start showing at the piers in June and stay through the fall.
August: hot water, early mornings
The hardest month to fish in daylight and one of the better ones to fish at night. Water temperature can push past 88 degrees and the fish go deep or nocturnal. Pier fishing after dark for king mackerel and tarpon is genuinely productive, and the piers stay open late.
Tarpon roll along the beach in August and early September. Hooking one from shore is a long shot and an unforgettable one.
September and October: the best month on this coast
Ask ten local anglers for the single best month and most of them say October. The water cools back into the 70s, the bait schools push down the beach, and everything follows them. Bull redfish stage around the pass. King and Spanish mackerel are thick. Pompano make a second run. Flounder move through on their fall migration and the gigging is excellent.
September is nearly as good with the caveat that it is still peak tropical weather season, so charter trips get moved around more than usual. Build flexibility into the plan.
November and December: the quiet good months
The crowds are gone and the fishing is still decent. Redfish and speckled trout in the bay, sheepshead starting to gather on structure, and the last of the fall run tapering off. Gag grouper season inshore often runs through the fall, which is worth checking against current regulations before you book anything.
This is our favorite time of year on the west end generally. Sixty five degrees, empty beach, nobody on the sand but people fishing.
Where to fish near the west end
- The beach access at the end of Sundial Street. Three minute walk. Best at first light for pompano and whiting in spring.
- Camp Helen State Park. About 10 minutes west. Lake Powell is a coastal dune lake with largemouth bass and bream, and the Gulf side is fishable too. A rare spot where you can fish fresh and salt water in the same morning.
- Inlet Beach and the 30A accesses. Roughly 12 minutes west, less crowded surf.
- St Andrews State Park jetties. About 30 minutes east and the single most productive shore spot in the county. Small park entry fee. Worth the drive.
- M.B. Miller County Pier. Around 20 minutes east, less crowded than the Pier Park pier and cheaper.
Licenses and rules
Florida requires a saltwater fishing license for most shore and boat fishing by non residents. You can buy a three day, seven day or annual license through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website or the Fish Rules app in a few minutes. Fishing from a licensed pier or on a licensed charter generally covers you without buying your own.
Size and bag limits change year to year, particularly for snapper, grouper and cobia. Check current regulations before you keep anything. The Fish Rules app does this by location and is what most people here actually use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to fish in Panama City Beach?
October, by a wide margin, for variety and volume. April and May are the best months specifically for surf fishing from the beach. June and July are the best for offshore red snapper.
Can I fish right off the beach near Sundial Suites?
Yes. The public access at the end of our street puts you on open surf in a three minute walk. Bring a long rod, dig sand fleas for bait, and go at sunrise or the hour before dark.
Do I need a fishing license?
Non residents almost always do for saltwater fishing. A short term license is inexpensive and takes a few minutes online. Fishing from a public pier or on a charter boat usually covers you under their license.
How much does a charter cost?
Expect roughly $500 to $700 for a half day inshore trip and $1,200 and up for a full day offshore, split across your group. Book several weeks ahead for June and July.
Can we cook what we catch at the suites?
Yes. Each suite has a full kitchen and there is grilling on the property. Clean your fish at the marina or the pier station rather than in the unit, and we will point you to the nearest one.
Come fish it yourself
Book a Sundial Suites stay direct at sundialsuites.com/book/ and save 10 to 15 percent versus the OTAs. Text Reanna at 360-865-9888 with any local question, including which charter captains are running well the week you are here. We are three minutes from the water and happy to save you the guesswork.
