Panama City, FL Marine Weather & Fishing Forecast

Panama City, FL Conditions: Saturday, August 1

On Saturday, August 1, Panama City, FL sees high tide at 12:20 PM (1.4 ft), low tide at 8:49 PM (0.5 ft). Winds 1–14 mph from the SW gusting to 28 mph. Air temperatures 77–84°F. Current water temperature is about 87°F. The strongest fishing windows line up with the moving water around each tide change, roughly an hour on either side.

Tides from NOAA Station 8729108 · wind & temperature from Open-Meteo. Open the live forecast for hourly charts and the 7-day outlook.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the tides in Panama City, FL today?

Panama City, FL experiences a mixed semidiurnal tide pattern common along the Gulf Coast, with two unequal high and low tides each day. The difference between highs can be significant, so check both tide heights when planning your trip.

What is the best time to fish in Panama City, FL?

The best fishing near Panama City, FL is typically one to two hours before and after each tide change, when moving water flushes bait off flats and through passes. On the Gulf Coast, outgoing tides are often the most productive because they concentrate baitfish in channels and creek mouths.

Is it safe to boat in Panama City, FL today?

Check the live wind forecast above for current conditions near Panama City, FL. Gulf waters can build steep chop quickly in winds above 15 mph, especially when wind opposes the tidal current. Afternoon sea breezes are common from spring through fall and can increase winds significantly after midday.

What is the water temperature near Panama City, FL?

Water temperature data for Panama City, FL is sourced from the nearest NOAA station (8729108). In Florida, seasonal temperature swings significantly influence which species are active and where they can be found — check current readings in the tide panel above.

What wind conditions are expected in Panama City, FL today?

The wind chart above shows today's hourly forecast for Panama City, FL using Open-Meteo weather model data. Along the Gulf Coast, east and southeast winds typically produce the best inshore fishing conditions with cleaner water, while west and southwest winds can push murky water across bays.

Fishing in Panama City, FL

Panama City and the surrounding Panhandle area sits along the Emerald Coast, where the Gulf of Mexico's clear green water meets white sand beaches and productive nearshore reefs. The area is particularly famous for its red snapper fishing, which peaks during the federally managed season each summer. The artificial reef program off Panama City includes hundreds of structures that hold massive concentrations of snapper, grouper, and amberjack.

Planning Your Trip

St. Andrews Bay and the Grand Lagoon system provide excellent inshore fishing for redfish, flounder, and spotted seatrout. The bay's grass flats and oyster bars are productive year-round, with fall being particularly good for redfish that school up in large numbers. Sheepshead are abundant around dock pilings and structure throughout the winter months.

The offshore waters off Panama City feature some of the Gulf's best deep-water fishing for tilefish, Warsaw grouper, and other species in 200–400 feet of water. Live-bait fishing over the many artificial reefs produces phenomenal catches. Check the live wind and wave forecast above to plan safe offshore trips to these productive grounds.

What's Biting in Panama City, Season by Season

Spring: Pompano show along the beaches in March as water pushes past 65 degrees, with Spanish mackerel and bluefish close behind. Sheepshead stack on the bridge pilings and jetty rocks to spawn early in the season. By late April, king mackerel arrive off the beach and cobia cruise the first bar heading west.

Summer: Red snapper season pulls most of the fleet offshore in June and July. Inside St. Andrew Bay, redfish and trout feed early before boat traffic builds, then slide into deeper grass edges. Tarpon roll along the beaches in July, and Spanish mackerel bust bait around the pass on almost every moving tide.

Fall: October brings the flounder run through St. Andrew Pass, with fish stacking on the jetties and channel edges before heading offshore. Bull redfish herd bait along the beach and inside the pass. Trout feed heavily in the bay as mullet pour out of the bayous, and kings make a strong late push off the piers.

Winter: Trout and redfish crowd into the deeper bayous and canals off St. Andrew Bay, where water stays a few degrees warmer. Sheepshead bite steadily on bridge and dock pilings all winter. On mild afternoons, fish shallow dark-bottom flats late in the day. Whiting and the occasional pompano hit the surf between fronts.

Local Spots Worth Knowing

St. Andrews State Park puts you on the jetties at the pass, one of the most reliable land-based spots in the area for flounder, redfish and Spanish mackerel. Russell-Fields Pier and M.B. Miller Pier on Panama City Beach reach deep enough for kings, cobia and pompano in season. Hathaway Bridge holds sheepshead and drum on its pilings. Shell Island, reachable only by boat, offers surf fishing on the Gulf side and grass flats on the bay side. The Grand Lagoon area near the pass concentrates trout and reds on moving water.

Nearby Marine Forecasts