Panama City, FL Fishing Report & Live Conditions

Panama City, FL fishing report

St. Andrews Bay and the pass fish year-round, with the mix shifting noticeably by season. Flounder — what locals call fluke — stack up in the pass and along grass flat edges from late spring through fall, while bluefish push through in aggressive blitzing schools during spring and fall migrations. Black sea bass hold on the rocky structure and jetty base most of the year and are reliable targets when offshore trips aren't practical. Kingfish — Spanish and cero — show up in warmer months chasing bait near the surface around the pass mouth. Weakfish pop up in cooler months near deeper grass edges, though they run smaller here than up the Atlantic coast. Tautog and striped bass are honest catches but less consistent this far south — occasional fish rather than reliable targets.

Work the outgoing tide hard through the pass, especially where the channel edge meets shallower shell bottom — that's where flounder ambush baitfish getting swept through. For flounder, slow-drag a buck-tail or paddle-tail grub along the bottom, or fish a live mud minnow under a popping cork near the jetty rocks. Bluefish need fast retrieves with wire-leader rigs or you'll lose tackle. Black sea bass respond well to cut squid or shrimp fished on bottom near the jetties. When water temps drop into the low 60s, move to deeper bay holes for weakfish using soft plastics on light jig heads. On windy days with dirty water, the bay side of the jetties offers cleaner water and concentrated fish.