Gulf Explorer: 5-Hour Fishing in Panama City
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
5hour Gulf fishing adventure targeting multiple species offshoreExpert guides provide equipment and local knowledge for successSmall group experience with maximum 4 guests per charter
When you're looking for a solid day on the water without breaking the bank or your back, this 5-hour inshore trip with Double C Charters hits the sweet spot. We're talking about fishing the productive waters around Panama City Beach, where the Gulf meets some of the most reliable inshore structure in Northwest Florida. Captain and crew know these waters like their own backyard, and with just 4 anglers max, you'll get the personal attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great haul. No rushing, no crowds – just you, your buddies, and some seriously cooperative fish that call these waters home year-round.
We launch early to beat the crowds and hit the prime feeding times when these fish are most active. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you're working grass flats for redfish, the next you're bouncing bottom around structure for flounder or picking apart oyster bars where sheepshead love to hang out. The boat's rigged with quality gear, but if you've got lucky rods or preferred tackle, bring them along. We'll spend the morning working different spots based on tides, weather, and what's been producing lately. Around mid-day, we'll adjust our approach – maybe hit some deeper channels for trout or work the edges where Spanish mackerel cruise looking for baitfish. The Gulf side offers different opportunities than the bay, so we'll play the conditions and go where the fish are biting best.
Inshore fishing here is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. We'll be using a mix of live bait – shrimp, pinfish, and whatever's available at the bait shop – along with proven artificials like soft plastics, spoons, and jigs. For redfish, we'll work the shallows with weedless rigs, letting baits drift naturally through the grass. Spanish mackerel respond well to fast-moving spoons and small jigs, especially when we find them feeding on the surface. Bottom fishing for flounder means working structure with live bait rigs, feeling for that distinctive tap-tap before they fully commit. The rods are medium-action spinning setups perfect for these species – strong enough to handle a bull red but sensitive enough to feel a trout's light bite. Circle hooks are the norm for live bait to ensure good hooksets and easy releases when needed.
Spanish Mackerel are speed demons that'll test your reflexes and put a serious bend in the rod. These silver bullets typically run 1-3 pounds and are most active during warmer months, though we see them almost year-round in these Gulf waters. They travel in schools, so when you find one, there's usually more around. What makes them special is their aggressive strike and blistering runs – plus they're excellent table fare when prepared fresh. Look for diving birds or surface activity, as these fish love to crash bait schools near the surface.
Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying flat on sandy or muddy bottoms waiting for an easy meal to drift by. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes – anything over 5 pounds is a trophy, and the bigger females are called "doormat" flounder for good reason. Fall and winter are prime times, but we catch them consistently throughout the year around structure, channel edges, and areas with good current flow. They're prized for their delicate, sweet meat and provide a different kind of fight – more of a steady pull than flashy runs, but satisfying when you feel that weight on the end of your line.
Sheepshead earn their nickname "convict fish" with distinctive black stripes, but they're better known for their incredible ability to steal bait without getting hooked. These fish have human-like teeth for crushing shellfish and require patience and quick reflexes to hook consistently. They're most active in cooler months around structure like docks, pilings, and oyster bars. A 3-4 pound sheepshead is a solid fish, and anything over 5 pounds will have you grinning. They're fantastic eating and provide a fun challenge since they're notoriously picky about bait presentation.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing in this area. These beautiful fish with distinctive spots are most active during cooler months but can be caught year-round in deeper holes and channels during summer. They have soft mouths, so playing them requires a light touch, but their willingness to hit both live and artificial baits makes them a favorite target. A keeper trout runs 15 inches or better, and anything over 20 inches is considered a "gator trout" – a real prize for any angler.
Redfish are the heavyweight champions of the inshore world, with their copper-bronze coloration and distinctive black spots near the tail. These powerful fish can range from schooling "rat reds" around 16-20 inches up to massive bull reds that'll peel drag and test your tackle to its limits. They're year-round residents but really turn on during fall months. What makes reds special is their strength and determination – they'll make long, powerful runs and use their broad sides to fight you all the way to the boat. Plus, they're perfectly adapted to shallow water, so sight fishing opportunities aren't uncommon on calm days.
Five hours gives you plenty of time to work different areas and target multiple species without wearing yourself out. The inshore waters around Panama City Beach offer some of the most consistent fishing in the Gulf, and Double C Charters has the local knowledge to put you on fish regardless of conditions. Whether you're looking to fill the cooler, introduce kids to fishing, or just enjoy a day away from the daily grind, this trip delivers the goods. The 4-person limit means personalized service and plenty of room to fish comfort
Meet your fishing machine for the day - a restored 22' Cape Horn bay boat that's built to chase down redfish and red snapper in Panama City Beach waters. This baby packs a serious 250HP Yamaha engine that'll get your crew of 4 cruising at 30 knots to the best fishing spots along the Gulf coast. The 2007 hull got a complete makeover in 2020, so you're riding in style with modern reliability. She's loaded with everything you need for a successful day on the water - GPS to navigate the flats, fish finder to locate the schools, and a wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on spooky fish without spooking them. The onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh while you're out there putting a bend in your rod. Whether you're targeting Spanish mackerel or hunting for flounder, this boat handles the Gulf waters like a pro and gives you the platform you need to make the most of your 5-hour fishing adventure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are hands-down the most exciting inshore fish we target, and those black spots near their tail make them easy to identify. Most of our fish run 18-30 inches and 3-15 pounds, perfect for both action and the dinner table. These copper-colored bruisers love super shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges where they're often tailing like bonefish. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up. What gets guests fired up is their bulldogging fight and how they'll eat just about anything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. Plus, they're fantastic eating with firm, sweet meat. Here's my favorite trick: look for nervous water or muddy spots where they're feeding, then cast a gold spoon past them and work it back slowly - that flash drives them absolutely wild.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are one of our bread-and-butter inshore species that'll keep your rod bent all day. Most run 14-18 inches and 1-3 pounds, though gator trout over 5 pounds cruise the deeper holes and channels. You'll find them over grass flats, around oyster bars, and in deeper pockets during 2-8 feet of water year-round. They're most active during dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours, especially in warmer months. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures - there's nothing like watching one explode on a surface plug in shallow water. They're also excellent eating with tender, flaky meat that's perfect for fish tacos. The key is matching your lure to the water depth and using a popping cork with live shrimp when they're finicky - that clicking sound drives them crazy and brings them running.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our local waters, sporting those distinctive black and white stripes that earned them the nickname. These crafty critters average 2-6 pounds and 14-18 inches, but slabs over 10 pounds show up around jetties and bridge pilings. They're structure junkies - anywhere you see barnacle-covered pilings, docks, or rocky bottom, that's where they'll be picking at crustaceans with those human-like teeth. Winter and spring are your best bet, especially around the spawning months of February through April. Guests get hooked on the challenge because they're notorious bait thieves with a delicate bite, but once you hook one, they're bulldogs. The payoff is some of the sweetest white meat in the Gulf. Here's the secret: use the smallest hook you can get away with, keep your bait tight to structure, and set the hook at the first tap - hesitate and they'll clean you out.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are the masters of camouflage lurking on our sandy and muddy bottoms. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and 2-5 pounds, though we've seen some doormat-sized ones push 8-10 pounds. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sand around structure, oyster bars, and channel edges in 2-15 feet of water. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. What guests love is the challenge - they're sneaky biters that require patience and a gentle touch. When you do hook one, it's a different kind of fight as they use that flat body like a dinner plate against the current. They're excellent table fare too, sweet and flaky. My go-to trick is using a Carolina rig with live mullet or shrimp and fishing it dead still on bottom - any movement spooks them.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are some of the most fun fish you'll hook in these Gulf waters. These silver speedsters usually run 1-3 pounds and 14-20 inches, but their blistering runs make them feel twice that size. You'll find them schooling near the surface around structures, grass flats, and sometimes right in the surf when water temps warm up. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially early morning and late afternoon. What makes them special is that lightning-fast initial run - they'll strip line like crazy before you know what hit. Plus, they're fantastic eating with mild, flaky white meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. Pro tip: use a small wire leader and keep your bait moving - they love fast-trolled spoons and won't hesitate to hit a lure going 4-5 knots.
Panama City