St. Andrew Bay Entrance / Panama City Beach is a Florida Panhandle inlet fishery where jetties and tidal channels connect St. Andrew Bay with the Gulf. Red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, and sheepshead are principal targets across the entrance and adjoining inshore structure.
Current Coastal Rating
Fair · 63
Beta
Conditions are fair, but confidence is reduced because some coastal inputs are partial or prediction-based.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Should I Go?
Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.
Consider
Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.
Medium confidence — The recommendation is usable, but one or more inputs are regional, proxied, stale, or incomplete.
Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.
This coastal rating is in public beta.
Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
Because this rating is in public beta, recommendations are capped at Consider when evidence is limited.
Service Status
Degraded
Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.
Recommended window
Tuesday · 8:00 AM–11:00 AM CDT
Window score
81
Max wind
12 mph
Max gust
18 mph
Daylight
100% of window
Tide state
falling
Peak current
1.9 kn
Why
Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.
Watch for
Tide timing uses a nearby prediction proxy.
Coastal conditions can change quickly. Review official alerts and current conditions before heading out.
These values are tidal-current predictions, not real-time observed currents. They describe conditions near this prediction station rather than the entire surrounding coastal area.
Data coverage
This station provides max-current and slack-water events, but not a continuous current-speed timeline.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
St. Andrew Bay Entrance / St. Andrews State Park jetty fishery
A Florida Panhandle Gulf pass fishery at the St. Andrew Bay entrance. St. Andrews State Park jetties, gulf pier, and Grand Lagoon boat basin give shore and boat access where red drum, spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, southern flounder, and cobia use the pass between Grand Lagoon and the Gulf. Andrew Bay Entrance / Panama City Beach.
Fishery type
Gulf pass jetty
Fishing modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
St. Andrews State Park rock jetties at the Grand Lagoon / Gulf pass · Gulf pier and Grand Lagoon fishing pier inside the park · Pass current, rock toes, and lagoon grass edges
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 15, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
St. Andrews State Park names Spanish mackerel, red fish, flounder, sea trout, cobia, and bluefish among jetty and surf catches. Common snook is omitted: FWC describes snook as infrequent along the northern Gulf. Listed species are not equally available every month. Seasonal notes describe typical presence.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Red drum
Primary
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish
No seasonal pulse known
St. Andrews State Park names red fish among jetty and surf catches.
Spotted seatrout
Primary
Cynoscion nebulosus
No seasonal pulse known
Named as sea trout by St. Andrews State Park. Grand Lagoon and pass edges are the structure here.
Spanish mackerel
Secondary
Scomberomorus maculatus
No seasonal pulse known
Named by St. Andrews State Park. FWC: absent from north Florida waters in winter. They are absent from north Florida waters in winter.
Sheepshead
Secondary
Archosargus probatocephalus
No seasonal pulse known
Jetty-rock and pier-piling class at the park.
Southern flounder
Secondary
Paralichthys lethostigma
No seasonal pulse known
Named as flounder by St. Andrews State Park. Gulf flounder also occur on this coast; southern flounder is the species listed here, without claiming every flounder seen is that species.
Cobia
Seasonal
Rachycentron canadum
No seasonal pulse known
Named by St. Andrews State Park among jetty catches. They move through seasonally.
Seasonal timing is not defined for every target.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Public shore and boat access is St. Andrews State Park. Florida State Parks lists jetty and surf fishing, a Grand Lagoon boat ramp and fishing pier, and that a Florida saltwater fishing license is required. Confirm current hours, entry fees, and jetty postings.
Primary hazards
Slick jetty rock, pass current, boat traffic, lightning, and heat are the primary hazards. Scuba and swimming also use the jetties; give space.
Fishery considerations
Pass current between Grand Lagoon and the Gulf is the fishing context.
Gulf wind against the pass steepens the jetties. A local wave reading is not available here.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
