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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Lake Van Vac

30.14°N · 85.64°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times CDT

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Conditions
Time
12 PM
Now
Score
78
Good
Tide
0.6 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
10 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
80°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 12 PM. Score 78 Good. Tide 0.6ft Falling ▼. Current -1.6kn Ebb. Wind 10kn ESE G15. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 80.1°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Sheepshead
Retention open
Daily limit
8 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 12"
Gear
Legal gear: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. Illegal: multiple hooks used with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Minimum size 12 in total length. Vessel limit 50 per trip during March and April. State regulations extend into federal waters. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park (not applicable to this area).
Other species here
Common Snook Retention openRed Drum Retention openGray Snapper Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Sheepshead is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Sheepshead
~6 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
5-15 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Bay
Inner Protected

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Spanish Shanty Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
78
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 78 · Sheepshead 78 · Gray Snapper 78
0006121824
9 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m
Fred Bayou
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77 · Gray Snapper 77
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11 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m
Goose Island
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
80
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 80 · Sheepshead 80 · Gray Snapper 80
0006121824
9 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m
Anderson Bayou
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
80
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 80 · Sheepshead 80 · Gray Snapper 80
0006121824
9 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m

About Lake Van Vac

Lake Van Vac is a protected inner bay near Panama City, Florida, with a sand bottom and depths running 5 to 15 feet. Red Drum peak from August through October, when inshore casting with soft plastic jerkbaits, paddle-tail jigheads, gold spoons, and topwater plugs covers the sandy flats effectively. Sheepshead take over from January through March, and bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, or sand fleas works for them in the deeper sections. Gray Snapper peak from May through August and respond to live pinfish and live shrimp on the bottom, while Spanish Mackerel run from March through October and hit small trolling spoons and gotcha plugs. Common Snook also round out the species list in these sheltered waters.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Lake Van Vac is one of the spots we track around Panama City. More spots in Panama City · All of Florida.

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