Panama City Surf and Pier Fishing

Any of you guys have any tips for surf or pier fishing on the gulf coast? We go to Panama City Beach every year around the end of June and stay in a waterfront condo on the east end near the state park and main jetty. I gave it a try last year a couple of nights but didn't have a whole lot of luck, just managing a couple catfish and 24" shark on cut squid.

Ideally I'd like to go early in the morning and catch a few that would be good eating that I could cook up that same day. But honestly, I'm not even familiar enough with which all species are the best to eat nor to target from the surf or pier.

The kings will be biting good but you have to know what you doing to catch them. Also the Spanish mackerel will be biting. You can catch them on a spoon. Just ask around on the pier most people will help you out.

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I don't fish the PC beach pier but I do fish the one in Ft Walton Beach when I can get down there..If you want to try for a king then you go to the end and don't let the local pier rats try to intimidate you as they tend to try and keep tourist away from them since they think you don't know how to fish. BUT there are a few that will assist you n how to rig just have to be courteous when you ask. If you are going to go for kings , If PCB pier is anything like the Ft Walton one then early in the morn by day break is the time to be on the end of the pier. If you can get them by fishing the sabaki rigs, try to get some live bait with live cigar minnows being the best but herring will work too.. Rig your line with about 18 inches of steel line(piano wire) tied to a barrel swivel other wise the macks will cut you off like sissors. Most rig them with a big treble hook and some use a stinger system with 2 and hook the live bait thru the mouth and under the tail. Either way ,toss it as far as you can straight out. Some use a balloon to take the line out if the wind is blowing right. NO lead just straight bait to hook. If you don't have any live bait use frozen cigar minnows, and fish the same way throw it way out and let it slowly sink.
If you want more action and a lot of bites with the possibility of catching a red fish or flounder , then fish about half way out on the pier ,so you don't get n the way of the mack fishermen and use a 1 oz barrel lead and a barrel swivel with about 18 inches of 20 lb floro carbon tied to it and put a # 2 circle hook on that. Bait of choice is live bull minnow if you can find them!!! These are the best as they don't get pin fish bites which will eat up live shrimp before anything good can get too them but sometimes the Bull minnows are hard to come by and they aint cheap at 4 bucks a doz, Anyway fish a straight down around the pier pilings as close as you can( yes you will get hung a few times if you are fishing close enough) always fish the side of the pier that had the current running you back under the pier not away as the fish use the pilings as cover. Again early early in the morn or late evening into the dark is best . One other way to fish and catch Spanish mackerel is to use a gotch plug/lure and tie it to about 10 inches of piano wire and cast and pump it back with short jerks anywhere along the pier sides out toward the end. Also a bubble rig is a great way to catch them and you can buy those in wally world and the clerks will tell you how to rig them up , they usually have instructions on them Hope this helps a little as I condensed it as much as I could

In times past I have picked up really good blue crabs on that jetty on PCB in about waist deep water @ night. Yeah that sounds crazy and that's why I do not do it anymore. I have since bought a trap but we have mainly been to Fort Morgan area since then. Not what you asked about I know but.

Thanks for all of the info guys! All very helpful. I'll post any follow up questions when I can think of some.

If you want trash fish action, wade out as far as you can and throw a "Gotcha" Plug and you can find Ladyfish. Which are nice cut bait for sharks. I know sandfleas work great for Pompano in May, but Im not sure about the end of June. I would imagine they would all be gone by then. Have fun!:fish

Spanish mac should be biting and are pretty easy to catch on spoons. They are delicious grilled with the skin on and lemon pepper