What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Panama City Beach, Florida for the first time?

There's fish out there to be caught, but alot of them you can't keep. Red snapper was mostly what we caught and had to throw them back since they weren't in season. However, great weather and still brought a couple red grouper on board.

The fish we wanted to target (tarpon) is not here right now. My fault, for not researching. Captain did inform me immediately after booking and I was fine with whatever fishing we would do. February still a bit chili.

Weather is cooler so dress in layers as a morning trip can start really cool. Because of cooler conditions some fish are not around the area so may limit ability to catch certain species but it was still a fun experience and my teenage kids had a fun time being competitive over biggest and most fish caught

this is a fantastic boat for first time and seasoned fisher. The boat cabin is can keep you warm or cool if needed while travelling out and in. Captain is very hands on and attentive to making it a memorable experience.

Do your research. Contact your captain for tips. Be on time, because your trip may not be the only one for the day. Tell the Capt. what you're interested in catching and if that's an option. Listen to what they tell you to do, and you'll have fun. I used Panama Adventures with Capt. Clay, and he is great.

Give them a try here because you will catch fish and if you have never fished before and it's your first time best fishing charter because captain Don spent the time explaining everything needed for you to catch fish. Even if you've never used certain fishing rids he will spend time explaining and teaching you it all . Top notch charter to book.

I opted for a private charter because we had a number of people who had not been deep sea fishing before. Based on what I saw of the crowds in mid August, we likely could have done a party boat and saved some money, BUT, it appeared several of the party boats didn’t even go out that morning and that could be because of the scarcity of the crowds. 6 hours was perfect

We were really late in the season for red snapper but we still caught a large variety of fish. Definitely had trouble getting keepers as quite a few things are out of season such as all the grouper that we caught except for one.

Great time! Be prepared for the heat, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Also don't let rain deter you. It shows rain almost everyday down there but the captains and crews are prepared for it and can usually navigate around it.

June is probably the best time as early season as possible, but there was still a decent amount of fish on the reefs in mid July. The count on these species are definitely up this year. You just have to go out a little further. But it was a really good family fishing trip. And we did very well.

If you want a more personal and memorable experience. I would recommend a boat like the Billistic II with Blue Water Connection. Nice comfortable air condition cabin. And just you and your family or friends. Well worth every penny.

Bring some water. Even though it was bay fishing water was a bit rough due to the weather. This does not bother me but for some I could possibly see taking a Dramamine prior to going might help. Great time.

The trip should have been called due to weather, or potential bad weather building, and lack of experience of the captain. He was not the captain we thought we were getting who is the owner of the business. It was his son and the reviews are based mostly on the owner not the son. Still tipped 10% of $240 to deck hand who had to work very little and when he did, was slow or inexperienced we noticed. This based on a $2400 boat fee, Caught 4 fish each costing $660. I stopped at the fish market and spent $110 so I could bring fish home to Atlanta where I now reside. We split the fees mostly, I paid a little more than most, I feel responsible because I had planned it, and I feel like I failed my friends, though they do not blame me.

We had so much fun with Captain Justin. Caught my first red snapper on my first drop of the line! He was friendly and attentive to bait my hooks. I hope we can go out again with him soon. Thanks for everything! Lisa Jenkins

Yes 100% Don was an amazing teacher easy to get along with. For this being our first time fishing he didn’t get mad when we had no idea what we were doing instead he took his time explaining how to cast and the little things like how to hold ur pole how to real what techniques and he know some great fishing spots where you will catch fish fast!! 10 out of 10 recommended

I’d definitely start out with a shorter trip to get your toes wet. That’s what our captain recommended and I’m glad we did it. Next time I think we’d probably book a longer trip since we now know how everyone does being offshore.

The captain said it was a good time for shark fishing. We got on on shark but lost it. The next one was a very large Sandbar shark, which are protected so we couldn't keep it but we were thrilled for the chance to reel in such a large shark. The weather the day before was not ideal and didn't set us up for the best fishing but the captain kept us on fish as much as possible. Great experience overall!

Consider what fish are in or out of season. We had a great time fishing and had a great time catching. However, Red Snapper were out of season despite being large enough to "keep" during another part of the year. We fished because we love fishing. However, we did want to keep something. The amberjack and goliath grouper we caught we awesome. However the goliath grouper is a protected species and the various amberjack we each slightly smaller than the legal limit to keep. Awesome time, though!

We had an absolute blast!! For 3 of us, it was the first time deep sea fishing and it was amazing!! Justin Redmon is top notch and excellent at what he does!! Took us out and we caught our limit of red snapper with 20-25 minutes. He then put us on some mahi-mahi. Caught 11 of them!! This guy knows his stuff!! If I could give him 100 stars I would. This fishing trip was worth every penny!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND Redmon’s Light Tackle Guide Service!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Go out on a "state" boat which typically remains within sight of land (+/- 10 miles out) to be sure your not prone to sea sickness. I've fished both near coast and off shore (deep sea) on several occasions in multiple states and would rate my overall experience fishing in Panama City as average. Typically a 6 hour (half day) trip results in 2-3 hours of actual fishing. If not already included and/or given the option by your captain, purchase live bait on your way out. Bring cash for tips and live bait purchase. Fish cleaning is not included but can be processed at a reasonable priced once you return to the dock Bring sunscreen, hat, camera, sunglasses, snacks and drinks.

March was a comfortable time to go fishing, but you can't keep the red snapper or grouper until summer. We had to throw back at least a dozen or more red snapper. If you catch your limit of vermillion snapper within 4 hours, spend the last hour or two going after amberjack and grouper. These big fish are a fun fight.

Bring sun screen; sun gloves; hat; sunglasses; long pants and long sleeve shirt; gator for the neck--otherwords, have a great time but don't get sun burned! Remember water reflection as significant as the overhead sun. Water is excellent and variety is great! Get a guide...they know where the big ones are.

Very nice trip. We caught two blacktip sharks, one towards the beginning and one closer to the end of the trip. The wait was relatively long but it was well worth it. Captain was very professional with equipment cleaned and ready to go. Boat was clean as well.

Book early if coming for snapper season. first timers should probably start with a 6 hour bottom fishing trip or 4 hour trolling just to check sea legs. If comfortable then go for the longer trips in deeper water.

Check the forecast for sea states. We came in right after a storm and the water was very rough. Our trip was planned well in advance so we could not have predicted the water states but be mindful that a fishing trip can be rescheduled if seas are rough.

Weather can be unpredictable (Florida), so if you have a couple days alloted, you increase your chance of a good fishing day. Bring sunscreen even on a cloudy day. You can still get burned. Bring water.

Before choosing a guide, make sure you address your desires up front! Milk runs are the norm and small mixed variety fish is to be expected unless you find the quality captains. Expect to pay for experience.

Amazing time to get out and enjoy fishing on the gulf coast. One thing I would say is that you should talk to your guide and ask what the best thing to go for is. They'll be able to give you more insight on what will give you the best luck!

Go with an experienced guide. They can put you on fish the only problem would be them over fishing spots. Several of the spots that we went to there were already anglers there. The red snapper were biting but trigger fish were a problem when it came to stealing bait. We also got into some dolphins that would take our fish once we caught them and were reeling them in.

We have older children 10 and 13, I wouldn't recommend an offshore trip for younger kids it does take awhile to get to the fishing locations and if they aren't good swimmers I would stay more inshore. Bring plenty of water to drink, it gets hot and you need to stay hydrated. Wear shoes with good traction, as the boat can be slippery and be ready to get splashed if the water is choppy.