St. Andrews Bay, St. Joseph Bay, and some of the most pristine Gulf waters in Florida. St Joseph Bay is one of the most pristine bays — scalloping capital of the Panhandle. Cape San Blas has world-class surf fishing and scalloping. St Andrews State Park jetty is one of the most productive public fishing spots.
Paralichthys lethostigma
Fall through spring. Winter holds the biggest flounder. Flounder stage at St Andrews Bay mouth in fall. Low light (dawn, dusk, cloudy days) is prime.
Slot limit 13"–20". Closed May 1–June 30. One fish per day in season. Verify current FWC rules.
Medium spinning. 15–20lb braid. 20lb fluorocarbon. Bounce soft plastics and live baits on sand and channel edges where flounder ambush.
Medium-action rod with backbone for working jigs in St Andrews Bay current. Sensitive tip detects bottom strikes.
Flounder fishing demands feel — Penn Prevail delivers.
Sciaenops ocellatus
Year-round. Tailing reds on shallow flats at low tide. Spring brings aggressive feeding throughout St Andrews and St Joseph Bays. Morning incoming tides are prime.
Slot limit 18"–27". One fish per day. Verify current FWC rules.
Medium spinning. 15–20lb braid. 20–25lb fluorocarbon leader. Wading St Joseph Bay flats requires stealth and finesse.
The most iconic redfish lure. Weedless design works through St Joseph Bay grass without snagging.
Gold spoon on St Joseph Bay flats — one lure, endless redfish.
Noisy popping cork that attracts redfish across the flats. Suspend live shrimp below over oyster bars.
Popping cork over Grand Lagoon oyster bars is devastatingly effective.
Cynoscion nebulosus
Year-round. Trophy trout in winter on deeper flats. Spring brings feeding activity across all flats. First light incoming tides are prime.
Slot limit 15"–19" (keep 1 over 19"). Five fish per day. Verify current FWC rules.
Light to medium spinning. 10–15lb braid. 20lb fluorocarbon leader. Seatrout have soft mouths — smooth drag and patience win.
Slow-sinking twitch bait for trophy seatrout. Work it twitch-twitch-pause over St Andrews Bay grass flat edges.
MirrOdine is the Panhandle legend for trophy trout.
Lightweight and sensitive — essential for detecting subtle seatrout bites on St Andrews Bay flats.
Trophy trout demand a sensitive rod. The Triumph delivers.
Ultra-light reel with silky smooth drag for all-day wading St Andrews Bay grass flats.
Light gear makes finesse fishing more fun — and catches more fish.
Rachycentron canadum
March–May is peak spring migration. Sight-fishing cobia near Cape San Blas and St Andrews is incredible. Early morning outgoing tide pushes fish toward offshore. Clear calm water is essential.
Minimum 33" fork length. Closed Dec 15–Feb 14. One fish per day when open. Verify current FWC rules.
Medium-heavy spinning or casting. 20–30lb braid. 40–50lb fluorocarbon. Cobia are strong — keep tight line and never give slack.
Heavy-action rod for sight-casting to cobia. Composite construction for sensitive accurate casts.
Sight-fishing cobia demands a sensitive yet powerful rod.
Smooth reel with baitrunner for live bait cobia rigging off Cape San Blas.
Live mullet plus baitrunner reel = epic cobia battles.
St Andrews Bay is deep and complex. Outgoing tides push current through the passes — excellent for flounder and redfish at the jetties. Incoming tides push baitfish onto shallow flats. Strong current at St Andrews State Park jetty = productive fishing.
Baitfish push onto St Joseph Bay flats. Redfish feed aggressively. Best early light.
Fish spread throughout flooded flats. Sight-fishing windows excellent on clear mornings.
St Andrews State Park jetty concentrates redfish and flounder. Current focuses aggressive fish.
Sight-fish tailing redfish on exposed St Joseph Bay flats. Move slowly.
Cobia migration sight-fishing near Cape San Blas. Redfish feed throughout bay system. St Joseph Bay comes alive.
Fish move deeper. Scallop season starts (July–Sept). Night-bite fishing at St Andrews. Heat pushes fish offshore.
Scalloping continues. Spanish mackerel off Cape San Blas. Flounder stage at passes. Trophy trout on deep flats.
Trophy seatrout on deep flats. Cold snaps = St Andrews State Park jetty is ON FIRE. Big flounder in holes.
Check live tides, weather, and solunar forecasts for specific Panama City & Cape San Blas fishing spots.
Fishing regulations change. Always verify current rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) before harvest. FishSonar.com is not responsible for regulatory changes after publication.