Saltwater Fishing Guide

Panama City Beach, FL -

The Gulf of Mexico is home to some of the finest fishing in the world. Locals and visitors alike share in the thrill of reeling in a big one! Whether you're spending a full day on a charter boat or just going out for a quick trip after work, fishing in the waters of the Emerald Coast can be exciting and relaxing at the same time.

Need to know what kind of fish can be found locally? Take a look at our guide and plan your fishing trip now! If you need to charter a boat, check our Fishing section and find a captain!

Name of Fish	Local Name	Best Season	Best Type Tackle	Best Baits	Average Size In Pounds	Edibility	Location
Amberjack	Jack	All Year	Trolling	Jigs & Spoons	20 - 50	Excellent Smoked!	Gulf-Wrecks
Barracuda	Cuda	May - Nov.	Trolling	Large Live Baits	15 - 40	Good	Gulf-Buoys
Black Fin Tuna	Tuna	May - Nov.	Trolling	Cigar Fish	11 - 25	Excellent	Offshore
Bluefish	Blue	Nov. - March	Light	Jigs & Spoons	1 - 5	Excellent	Bay-Gulf
Blue Runner	Hardtail	May - Nov.	Light	Jigs & Spoons	1 - 3	Average	Bay-Gulf Jetties- Piers
Bonito	False Albacore	April - Nov.	Trolling	Cigar Fish Jigs & Spoons	8 - 20	Fair	Bay-Gulf Jetties- Piers
Channel Bass	Redfish	Sept. - March	Medium	Cigar Fish Live Shrimp	7 - 30	Excellent	Bay-Gulf Jetties- Piers
Cobia	Ling	March - June	Casting	Live Catfish - Jigs	30 - 70	Excellent	Offshore - Gulf
Corbina	Whiting	Oct. - March	Light	Shrimp	1 - 3	Excellent	Surf
Dolphin	Bull	May - Nov.	Medium	Jigs & Spoons	2 - 40	Good	Offshore - Gulf
Drum	Convict Fish	Sept. - March	Medium	Shrimp Sand Fleas	3 - 50	Small Excellent	Gulf
Flounder	same	Year Around	Light	Live Minnows	1 - 5	Excellent	Bay-Gulf
Giant Sea Bass	Jewfish	May & June	Heavy	Big Live Baits	75 - 200	Excellent	Rock Jetties
Grouper	Gag	Year Around	Heavy	Cut Baits	10 - 60	Excellent	Offshore - Deep
Jack Crevalle	Jack	March - Nov.	Medium	Jigs & Spoons	8 - 30	Fair	Bay-Gulf
Mackerel (King)	Kingfish	May - Nov.	Medium	Cigar Fish - Spoons	6 - 40	Excellent	Bay-Gulf
Mackerel (Spanish)	Spanish	March - May	Light	Jigs & Spoons	1 - 5	Excellent	Bay-Gulf
Marlin (Blue)	Big Blue	May - Dec.	Heavy	Mullet -Bonito	150 - 500	Excellent	Offshore - Deep
Marlin (White)	White	May - Dec.	Medium	Cigar Fish	40 - 80	Excellent	Offshore - Deep
Pompano	Yellow Trial	March - Nov.	Light	Yellow Jigs - Sand Fleas	1 - 5	Excellent	Gulf-Piers-Jetties-Surf
Red Snapper	Hambone	Year Around	Medium	Cut Bait	3 - 25	Excellent	Offshore - Gulf
Sailfish	Big Sail	May - Nov.	Medium	Cigar Fish	30 - 50	Excellent Smoked!	Offshore - Gulf
Tarpon	Silver King	May - Nov.	Medium	Large Plugs	30 - 90	Very Poor	Bay-Gulf
Trigger Fish	Trigger	Year Around	Medium	Cut Bait	1 - 12	Excellent	Bay-Gulf
Weakfish	Speckled Trout	Sept. - March	Light	Live Shrimp - Plugs	1 - 5	Excellent	Bay Flats
Wahoo	Big King	May - Nov.	Heavy	Cigar Fish	15 - 90	Excellent	Offshore - Deep
Warsaw	Grouper	Year Around	Heavy	Big Live Baits	75 - 300	Excellent	Offshore - Deep

If you are fishing from a pier that charges admission, a party boat, guide boat or charter boat, a Saltwater Fishing License is not required. Otherwise, Saltwater Licenses can be purchased at any local bait & tackle store, at Wal-Mart in the sporting goods area, or online. Periodic bag and size limits may apply to certain species. Please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for more info

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Panama City Beach, Florida

Saltwater Fishing Guide

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