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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Pretty Bayou

30.20°N · 85.71°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
80
Good
Tide
0.6 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
9 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
80°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 12 PM. Score 80 Good. Tide 0.6ft Falling ▼. Current -1.6kn Ebb. Wind 9kn ESE G13. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 80.4°.

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
Red Drum Retention openGray Snapper Retention openCommon Snook Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openSpotted Seatrout 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
3-15 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Bay
Inner Protected

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Goose Island
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
80
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 80 · Sheepshead 80 · Gray Snapper 80
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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
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
0006121824
11 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m

About Pretty Bayou

Pretty Bayou is a protected inner bay off Panama City, Florida, with a sand bottom running 5 to 15 feet deep in the Panhandle region of Florida's Gulf state waters. Red Drum peak from August through October, Sheepshead from January through March, and Gray Snapper from May through August, while Spanish Mackerel hold in the area from March through October and Common Snook round out the inshore lineup. Over the shallow sand flats, inshore casting with soft plastic jerkbaits, paddle-tail jigheads, and gold spoons targets Red Drum, and live shrimp or finger mullet works when the fish hold tight. Bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or live shrimp takes Sheepshead through the winter, and the same approach with live pinfish or cut sardines produces Gray Snapper in the summer months. Spanish Mackerel respond to small trolling spoons and casting with metal jigs or gotcha plugs across the deeper edges of the bayou.

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Pretty Bayou is one of the spots we track around Panama City. More spots in Panama City · All of Florida.

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