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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Bay Channel

30.36°N · 87.23°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

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

All times CDT

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Conditions
Time
12 PM
Now
Score
69
Fair
Tide
0.1 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
13 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2 ft @ 5 s SE
Air temp
76°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 12 PM. Score 69 Fair. Tide 0.1ft Falling ▼. Current -1.2kn Ebb. Wind 13kn ESE G19. Sea 2 ft @ 5 s SE Choppy. Air 75.7°.

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
Spanish Mackerel Retention openGray Snapper Retention openCommon Snook Retention openRed Drum 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
260-660 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Corridor
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Town Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Gray SnapperSHOULDER SEASON
Gray Snapper 77 · Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77
0006121824
14 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m
Jones Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77 · Gray Snapper 77
0006121824
14 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m
Pensacola Bay
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77 · Gray Snapper 77
0006121824
14 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m
English Navy Cove
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77 · Gray Snapper 77
0006121824
14 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m

About Bay Channel

Bay Channel is an outer, exposed sand-bottom corridor off Pensacola in the Florida Gulf State Waters Panhandle Region, with depths running from 260 to 660 feet. Red Drum peak in September and October, Sheepshead hold their strongest window from January through March, Gray Snapper run best from May through August, and Spanish Mackerel stay active from April through October, with Common Snook also on the target list. Across this open sand corridor, bottom fishing with live shrimp, cut bait, live pinfish, or squid puts baits in front of Gray Snapper, and chumming with frozen chum or cut bait draws fish up toward the hook. Spanish Mackerel respond to trolling small spoons, straw rigs, small diving plugs, and trolling feathers along the corridor. Sheepshead anglers work fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, and oysters on the bottom, while Red Drum take live finger mullet, cut mullet, live shrimp, and cut menhaden fished on the sand.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Bay Channel is one of the spots we track around Pensacola. More spots in Pensacola · All of Florida.

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