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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Smack Bayou

30.13°N · 85.67°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
9 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 9kn ESE G15. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 79.7°.

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 openGray Snapper Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openRed Drum 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
3-12 ft
Mud
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
0006121824
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 Smack Bayou

Smack Bayou is a protected inner bay off Panama City, Florida, with a soft mud bottom and depths of 5 to 10 feet. Red Drum peak from August through October and respond to inshore casting with soft plastic jerkbaits, jigheads with paddle tails, gold spoons, and topwater plugs worked across the mud flats. Sheepshead take over from January through March, when bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, or oysters produces steady bites. Gray Snapper peak from May through August on bottom rigs baited with live pinfish, live shrimp, cut sardines, or squid. Spanish Mackerel run from March through October and hit small trolling spoons and feather jigs, while Common Snook round out the species list in this sheltered, shallow water.

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

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