Fishing enthusiasts visiting Panama City Beach will not leave the resort area empty-handed. The clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay are teeming with fish, offering some of the best sport fishing in the world. Visitors can test their angling versatility by fly casting for redfish in St. Andrews Bay, trolling the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico for a regal blue marlin or playing tug-of-war with a feisty red snapper in one of the area's numerous wrecks and artificial reefs.

Fishing is a year-round pursuit in Panama City Beach but spring and fall offer the best angling opportunities. During March, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are sure to be found in the Bay. Trout, redfish and ladyfish are also found feeding in the fertile grass flats. Pompano, cobia and jack crevalle will be running the beaches, followed by smoker king mackerel in the 20 – 40-pound class. Due to light winter fishing pressure, the wrecks and reefs are allowed to restock with bottom species including snapper, grouper, triggerfish and amberjack.

The summer months are prime for trout and redfish in the Bay, especially early in the morning and late in the day. Surf fishing will yield catches of pompano, whiting and ladyfish. Inshore fishing enthusiasts will find king mackerel, mahi-mahi and bonito. Offshore excursions can yield wahoo, yellow fin tuna, sailfish and marlin. Schools of tarpon can be spotted without even leaving the beach.

The fall months present cooler water temperatures, triggering an urgency to feed. Trout and reds will aggressively attack top water baits. Flounder begins a migration to the Gulf and stack up on inshore structure. Pompano will again school along the beach. Mahi-mahi are still around, and black fin tuna will be found under the schools of bonito. Inshore bottom fishing continues with cobia added to the catch, while offshore fishing begins to slow. During winter, trout and redfish move into deeper holes in the Bay with excursions to the flats on warm afternoons. Beach fishing yields an occasional whiting, and bottom fishing can be great on the right days. Larger fish move to inshore structure during the winter.

Home to one of the country's largest sport fishing fleets, Panama City Beach boasts multi-talented captains and crews. Visitors can choose from a 16-foot skiff to fish the shallowest flat or a million-dollar sport fishing yacht to explore offshore hot spots in luxurious comfort. Panama City Beach has miles of pristine beaches, hundreds of acres of wadeable flats and three fishing piers extending into the Gulf of Mexico.

More than ten major fishing tournaments are held in Panama City Beach each year. At the 2001 Bay Point Billfish Tournament, a record-breaking 1,046 pound blue marlin was caught, setting a new Florida state record and weighing in as the 14th largest in the world.

Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of silky, white-sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. The Northwest Florida destination enjoys recognition as a top U.S. beach from Conde Nast Traveler, The Travel Channel, USA Today, Southern Living, Dr. Beach and the Clean Beaches Council. Family attractions, championship golf courses, sporting events, delectable dining, predictably sunny weather and a vast number of recreational activities draw visitors to this seaside destination annually. For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-5070) or visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.