Panama City Beach is the archetypal Florida vacation town. A land of great weather, amazing beaches, and of course, awesome fishing. If you want to cast a line but you’re not big on boats, you can enjoy huge hookups at one of several fishing piers in Panama City Beach. Pick up your gear, lunch, and fishing pass in one convenient spot or go it alone for a slice of remote beauty. There’s a pier for every taste in PCB.
Russell-Fields Pier (City Pier)
Address: 16201 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Opening hours: 24/7
Cost: Spectators $4. Anglers $7.
License required? No
Where better to start than the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico? Russell-Fields Pier stretches over 1,500 feet into the Gulf. Fish near the beach for Spanish Mackerel, Speckled Trout, Redfish, and more. Head to the end of the pier, and you can land Cobia, Kingfish, and even Amberjack. Come at night for the chance to battle monster Sharks. People have even caught Makos here before!
City Pier has everything you need for a great day out. The Half Hitch tackle shop provides rod rental, frozen bait, snacks, and drinks from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. There are restrooms on the beach nearby. You don’t even need a license to fish here. Instead, you pay $7 per person for 24 hours of exciting angling on the longest pier in the Gulf. What more could you ask for?
M.B. Miller County Pier
Address: 12213 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Opening hours: 24/7
Cost: Spectators $3. Anglers $6. Seniors, active military, or disabled persons $3 (ID and proof of disability required).
License required? No
Panama City Beach’s County Pier it pretty similar to its City Pier. It’s a little shorter (still around 1,500 feet). It’s a little cheaper ($6 per angler instead of $7). You can catch the same awesome mix of fish, and there’s even another branch of the same tackle shop where you can pick up your gear and refreshments. So which one’s right for you?
The main advantages to M.B. Miller Pier are that it’s closer to town and there are restrooms on the pier as well as on the beach. Honestly, you’ll have a swell time fishing from either of them. If you don’t mind missing out on the Gulf’s longest fishing pier, why not save yourself a dollar? You can also fish from the end of the pier without having to hike to the restroom.
Another perk is that if you buy an annual pass for either of these two piers, you can access the other for free!
St. Andrews State Park
Address: 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, FL 32408
Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. until sundown
Cost: $8 per vehicle (2-8 people). $4 for single-occupant vehicles. $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, and extra passengers.
License required? Yes
Want to get away from town for a fun day out? St. Andrews State Park is just the ticket. The park has two fishing piers, one stretching into the Gulf, the other sheltered in the Grand Lagoon. There are also rocky jetties and endless surf if you want to switch things up. You’ll be fighting a mix of inshore species like Mackerel, Drum, and Trout, with the occasional Cobia or Shark thrown in.
The great thing about St. Andrews is that you pay $8 per vehicle to enter the park but fishing is free, as long as you have a fishing license. There are stores near the piers where you can pick up supplies. And when you’re done fishing, you’ve still got the whole park to explore! Swim, cycle, sunbathe, or take a boat tour to see dolphins and sea birds. There’s plenty to keep the family busy.
And More!
These are the top three fishing piers in Panama City Beach, but there are way more out there. Every town has a local jetty where you can wet a line. Take a drive along the coast, and you’ll see impressive structures stretching into the sea every few miles. Wherever you fish, you’re in for a great time. That’s what a vacation in Florida is all about, after all!
What’s your favorite fishing pier in the PCB area? Have you been to any of the ones on our list? Which spots did we miss? Let us know your fish tales and recommendations in the comments below!
