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How is the fishing in North Florida (Panama City Beach) in January? (I will be mainly surf fishing)?

I am coming to Florida in the middle of January. I would really like to get into some fish while I am there. What can I expect to catch from the beach and what baits should I use? Can I expect the fishing to be good or poor?

Public Comments

1. It can be "hit or miss" depending on WHERE you decide to go. If you plan on trying a couple different spots and "doing your homework" you will do well. If you plan on walking behind your Hotel and trying to catch something "on a whim" you will do poorly, (period).

Before you leave you should investigate as many fishing reports from the internet, local baitshops, and local piers as you can. People that do "homework" make their OWN luck!!!

What will be "running" strong at that time will be "Sand Trout", Spec Trout, Sheephead, the occasional Redfish, (on warmer days) Spanish Macs and Angelfish.

Sand Trout- http://www.texasgulfcoastfishing.com/sandtrout.html

Sand Trout will hit dead Shrimp or cut-bait fished on the bottom, but your "best bet" bait for Sandy's is a LIVE Shrimp, Pogy, or small pinfish. They also LOVE Berkley Gulp saltwater products fished in conjunction with a 1/4-1/2 OZ jig. They love sandy-bottomed bays and inlets.

Spec Trout- http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/strout/

Sheephead- http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976761432

Redfish- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_drum

Spanish Macs- http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishing/saltwater-fishing/gf_aa046304a/

Angelfish/Spadefish- http://hubpages.com/hub/Saltwater-Fishing-Tips-How-to-Catch-Spadefish-or-Angelfish

And OF COURSE the ever-present Hard Head Catfish and Sail-cats.

Hope this helps ya?

2. like already stated you have to read reports and ask around at baitshops to find the spots it also largely depends on how big the surf is no matter what though jigs always perform well if you use them if its calm you can use other lighter lures but again if you're gonna go to the baitshops ask them they probably wont tell you their absolute favorite lure but they will tell good ones that will work because they want the return business really finding out from the locals is the best way, the best baitshops are the ones that are privately owned non chain businesses they will have the best info because chances are they lives there most of their life their prices may not be the best but their info is plus i like to support the small businesses when i can
o and what the other person forgot is pompano or jack are usually there when there is bigger surf and they are good fighters and pompano taste amazing
and i dont like piers to crowded and overfished

3. If you have a chance, Matt, try the Warm Water Canal at the Power Plant. Excellent spec fishing on live minnows or white stingray grubs on red jig heads. Flounder should be in the shallows almost any place with a dock, especially at night. Around the seawalls, bridges and docks you can catch Sheepshead on fiddler crabs or oysters.
For a change in pace try Deer Point Lake for some winter bass and bream fishing. Worms or deep-running Rapalas or rattletraps for the bass, live worms or crayfish (1 to 1 1/2 inches) for the bream. Try just across the dam, about 1/4 mile, or off the dam in the deeper portion.

Good luck and enjoy!