About Saint Andrew Bay, FL

Saint Andrew Bay is a 69,000-acre bay and estuary located at Bay County in Panama City in the northwest panhandle of Florida. It is colloquially called St. Andrews Bay. The bay is relatively deep and has a relatively high saltwater level due to the low freshwater inflow supplied by only a few spring-fed creeks, the most notable being Econfina Creek, fuelled by Wiliford and Pitts Spring. The bay is named after Andrew the Apostle or Saint Andrew. The Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway is also named after the bay.

The bay was the site of multiple salt works vital for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. USS Bloomer Commander Edward Crissey helped destroy many of the salt works, doing significant damage to the Confederate war effort. Saint Andrew Bay is also situated next to St. Andrews State Park, which has the Gulf of Mexico running along its other side. Wild dolphins are commonly spotted in the waters of the bay as well as the occasional manatee.

All About Fishing in Saint Andrew Bay, FL 

Saint Andrew Bay is known for its abundance of mullet, redfish and speckled trout. With over 60 proven fishing spots and its relatively high water salinity, the bay is also a productive fishing area for flounder, Spanish mackerel, cobia, northern red snapper, bluefish, king mackerel, blacktip shark, crevalle jack, Florida pompano and more. Anglers are encouraged to look up local fishing regulations and daily catch and keep limits for certain species. The fishing experience one can have in the bay is superb due to its clear and pristine waters and being an exemplary fish habitat, also making it ideal for sight fishing and wading.

Inshore fishing is very popular at the bay as many fish gather at its inner shoreline. Anglers can fish by the banks or at the available piers and docks. Otherwise, boat ramps are also available around the bay. Fly fishing is commonly done at the bay though one can still practice spinning, baitcasting and trolling there. The bay spans over 20 miles of grass and sand flats, rock mass, deep channels and cuts, and oyster beds where one can easily find an array of saltwater fish. Swimming, snorkeling and surfing can also be done in the area. Several boat rental and fishing charter services are available around the bay. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing in Saint Andrew Bay is active throughout the year but slows down during the winter as many fish migrate out to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Runs of migrating cobia, pompano and mackerel as they travel from the Gulf to the bay are best seen during the spring and fall. The summer produces a large variety of game fish like sharks, best trolling for them in deep waters. Summer is also the best time to target speckled trout while winter is the perfect time to catch big bull redfish. Mullet is best caught from November to January while flounder season is open from October to November. Red snapper can only be fished for between the months of June and July with a possible reopening in fall if a quota is available. Bluefish are active during the late summer and fall while one can fish for crevalle jack from spring through fall. It is urged to look up the daily weather forecast as well as water and tide conditions before venturing out to fish at the bay.

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing in Saint Andrew Bay is active throughout the year but slows down during the winter as many fish migrate out to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Runs of migrating cobia, pompano and mackerel as they travel from the Gulf to the bay are best seen during the spring and fall. The summer produces a large variety of game fish like sharks, best trolling for them in deep waters. Summer is also the best time to target speckled trout while winter is the perfect time to catch big bull redfish. Mullet is best caught from November to January while flounder season is open from October to November. Red snapper can only be fished for between the months of June and July with a possible reopening in fall if a quota is available. Bluefish are active during the late summer and fall while one can fish for crevalle jack from spring through fall. It is urged to look up the daily weather forecast as well as water and tide conditions before venturing out to fish at the bay.

All About Fishing in Saint Andrew Bay, FL 

Saint Andrew Bay is known for its abundance of mullet, redfish and speckled trout. With over 60 proven fishing spots and its relatively high water salinity, the bay is also a productive fishing area for flounder, Spanish mackerel, cobia, northern red snapper, bluefish, king mackerel, blacktip shark, crevalle jack, Florida pompano and more. Anglers are encouraged to look up local fishing regulations and daily catch and keep limits for certain species. The fishing experience one can have in the bay is superb due to its clear and pristine waters and being an exemplary fish habitat, also making it ideal for sight fishing and wading.

Inshore fishing is very popular at the bay as many fish gather at its inner shoreline. Anglers can fish by the banks or at the available piers and docks. Otherwise, boat ramps are also available around the bay. Fly fishing is commonly done at the bay though one can still practice spinning, baitcasting and trolling there. The bay spans over 20 miles of grass and sand flats, rock mass, deep channels and cuts, and oyster beds where one can easily find an array of saltwater fish. Swimming, snorkeling and surfing can also be done in the area. Several boat rental and fishing charter services are available around the bay.