[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you don’t have a boat to get out in the Gulf no worries! Panama City Beach offers anglers some of the best fishing piers in the Panhandle with 4 to choose from. 3 that reach far out into the Gulf of Mexico, and 1 that offers anglers a chance to cast their line into the Grand Lagoon for some redfish, trout, or flounder action. The two longest fishing piers are the identical Russell-Fields Pier and M.B. Miller Pier, a.k.a. as the City Pier and the County Pier. Each stretches 1,500 feet out, which makes them the longest piers in the Gulf of Mexico. The cost to fish from either pier is $6.00 and includes your daily fishing license. So whether you’re a local angler or here on vacation, come on out and fish. You can rent all your gear right at the piers.
September is a great month to get in on the summertime action with our nice weather as the night-time temperatures begin to cool later this month. The King and Spanish mackerel action should continue to be hot all month long. Use frozen cigar minnows or live baitfish like alewives caught off the pier using a Sabiki rig. Be sure to use a steel leader when fishing for mackerels, otherwise their sharp teeth will cut you off. Also larger flounder, redfish, amberjack, and Jack crevalle can be caught this month as well. Ladyfish will be cruising the beaches and are always fun to catch even though they’re not good table fare. A few gray snappers have been caught with frozen shrimp, squid, or cut bait.
What makes Panama City Beach pier fishing so much fun is that many species of fish can be caught, and you never know what it might be. Sailfish and tarpon have been sited cruising the waters, so hang on! Your best bet for sailfish is live LYs (Alewives), hardtails, or threadfins which can be caught right off the pier with a Sabiki rig. Happy fishing!