Inshore & Bay Fishing Guide
Calm water, steady action and a short ride from the dock. Here's what inshore fishing in Panama City Beach is all about.
Not every great fishing trip goes offshore. St. Andrew Bay, Grand Lagoon and the grass flats around Shell Island hold redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and Spanish mackerel, all in water that stays calm when the Gulf is rough.
Inshore trips are a great fit for families with young kids, anyone who gets seasick and anglers who like light tackle. The ride to the fish is short, so you spend more of the trip fishing.
What an inshore trip includes
- Light spinning tackle
- Live shrimp, baitfish or artificial lures
- Fishing around grass flats, docks, jetties and channels
- Calmer water than offshore trips
- Shorter runs between spots
- Tips on casting and working lures
- Help measuring and keeping legal fish
- Trips that work well for small groups
How an inshore trip works
Meet the captain
Inshore trips often use smaller bay boats and may leave from a different dock than the big offshore boats.
Fish the tide
The captain picks spots based on the tide, since moving water gets inshore fish feeding.
Cast and work the bait
You'll cast to grass edges, docks and jetties instead of dropping straight down.
Keep a few for dinner
The crew measures your catch and keeps what's legal.
Inshore fishing by season
Spring and fall are the best seasons for redfish and speckled trout, when the water is mild and the fish feed heavily. Spanish mackerel run along the beaches and passes from spring into fall.
Summer inshore trips are best early in the morning. In winter, sheepshead stack up around docks and jetties, and trout move into deeper, warmer water in the bay.
Questions to ask your charter captain
- What will we target on this trip?
- Do you use live bait or lures?
- How many people fit on the boat?
- Where do we meet the boat?
Common questions
Is inshore fishing good for beginners?
Yes. The water is calm, the tackle is light and the captain teaches you as you go.
Will I get seasick inshore?
It's much less likely. The bay is protected from Gulf waves, so the ride is usually smooth.
What's the difference between inshore and nearshore?
Inshore trips fish the bay and lagoons. Nearshore trips fish the Gulf within a few miles of the beach, often for mackerel, cobia and sharks.
Can we fish inshore when the Gulf is too rough?
Often, yes. Inshore trips are a good backup when wind keeps the offshore boats at the dock.
Know a charter captain doing great work?
We're always looking for local fishing charters to celebrate. Captains can reach out to be featured, too.