There are seven piers within 50 miles of Destin where you can wet your line in the ocean and have a chance to catch some trophy
saltwater fish. Each has its own character and following of local anglers and can be a source of many relaxing moments catching
fish and tasting the saltwater air.
saltwater fish. Each has its own character and following of local anglers and can be a source of many relaxing moments catching
fish and tasting the saltwater air.
| FISHING THE PIERS IN THE DESTIN AREA |
OKALOOSA ISLAND PIER Click here for more information on the OKALOOSA ISLAND PIER |
NAVARRE BEACH PIER Click here for more information on the NAVARRE PIER The 1545 ' Narvarre Beach pier opened on May 5, 2010. |
PENSACOLA BEACH PIER Click here for more information on the PENSACOLA BEACH PIER |
PANAMA CITY BEACH - RUSSELL-FIELDS PIER (CITY PIER) Click here for more information on the PANAMA CITY BEACH RUSSELL-FIELDS PIER (CITY PIER) |
PANAMA CITY BEACH - ST ANDREWS STATE PARK PIER (Tiller Pier) Click here for more information on the ST ANDREWS STATE PARK PIER in Panama City Beach |
MB MILLER PIER Click here for more information on the PANAMA CITY MB MILLER PIER Pier is rebuilt and is open |
A wide variety of fish may be caught from the piers. With lengths from 1200 to 1500' out into the ocean, just about any of the
saltwater fish in this area except the big game fish can be caught there. One of the major factors in catching fish there is the time
of year due to migration patterns of the various fish. Here is a general idea by the time of year.
JANUARY: Redfish, Flounder, Bonito
FEBRUARY: Redfish, Bonito
MARCH: Redfish, Bluefish, Pompano, Cobia, Spanish Mackerel
APRIL: Redfish, Sheepshead, Bluefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Cobia. Baitfish also start
showing up.
MAY: Redfish, Bluefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Cobia, Ladyfish, Bonito,and
baitfish.
JUNE: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Bonito, Ladyfish, and baitfish.
JULY: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Lady Fish, Bonito and baitfish.
AUGUST: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Ladyfish, Bonito and baitfish.
SEPTEMBER: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Ladyfish, Bonito and baitfish.
OCTOBER: Redfish, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Flounder, Last of the
baitfish for the season.
NOVEMBER: Redfish, Bluefish, Flounder. Baitfish are pretty much gone by now.
DECEMBER: Redfish, Flounder, Bonito
What kind of fish can I catch from the piers? |
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE WITH ME TO FISH THE PIERS? |
What you take depends on a lot of factors, ie, what fish you are targeting, time of the year, your preference. This is just a guide
to start with and is not the final answer.
1. Three rod & reels
a. Light weight rod/reel/line for catching bait, throwing Pompano jig, Gotchas, etc.
- ROD: 7' Light action
- REEL: Light weight spinning or bait casting reel
- LINE: 8 to 12# test, monofilament or braid
b. Medium weight rod/reel/line rigged for free-lining for
King Mackerel and other larger predators.
- ROD: 8-9' Medium action
- REEL: Medium action spinning reel, ie Penn 750ssm
- LINE: 20 TO 30# test, monofilament
c. Medium weight rod/reel/line rigged for throwing lures to
Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, etc.
- ROD: 8 - 9' Medium action
- REEL: Medium action spinning reel, ie Penn 750ssm
- LINE: 20 to 30 # test, monofilament
2. Pier Cart to carry your tackle, cooler, etc. Let's face it, you have to walk a long way with a lot of stuff. If you are just going to
fish the pier a few times a year, borrow a kid's wagon and pull all your stuff in it. If you think you will be going more often, invest
in one of the wheeled fishing carts made for this. They sell them at Walmart and the tackle stores.
3. Tackle box or tackle bag with your terminal tackle and lures:
a. 3 - 4 Gotchas, rigged with 2-3' 40# fluorocarbon leader or wire leader. Chrome/red, Chrome/Green, White/Red
b. 3 - 4 Pompano jigs, your choice. White head with pink tail always a good one. Tied directly to your main line, no leader
required.
c. 3 - 4 Wire King Mackerel rigs for free lining live bait. Most people around here use a 2 treble hook rig on Malin wire.
The also sell these at the pier.
d. Chicken (Dropper) rigs or Pompano bait rigs: There are not many types of fish to catch on a bottom rig at the pier except for
bait, hardtails, and catfish. No grouper or snapper. But
your young kids will love catching things on them. You can catch
Pompano and Whiting just outside the surf line using a smaller version
of a Chicken rig tipped with a piece of freshly peeled shrimp.
They sell these at the Pier also.
e. Egg sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz
f. Pyramid sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz
Pompano Rig
g. Circle hooks, 2/0, 4/0, 6/0 as needed
h. Swivels, 80#
i. 3- 4 Bubble rigs (Rigged with Gotchas, McDonald straws, etc as desired.)
j. Bait as desired (Squid, shrimp, etc)
k. Needle nose pliars
l. Dehooker
m. Knife
n. Three to four packages of # 6 or # 8 hook Sabiki rigs if you plan to catch live bait
LEFT: Sometimes it helps
to bait the sabiki hooks
small pieces of squid.
RIGHT: Sabiki hook rigs
4. Back pack or shoulder bag to carry everything in.
5. Hat
6. Polarized sunglasses
7. Water and other beverage of choice
8. Sun Block
9. Flashlight for night fishing
10. Cooler with ice. Very important to keep your fish iced to keep it fresh. If possible, use a different cooler for your drinks and
food. If you have to use the same one as your fish, put your drinks and food in a plastic bag, but they will still probably smell like
fish.
11. Bridge/pier gaff with rope or hoop net. For the large fish. You will not be able to pull up a large fish on just your fishing line.
Most times someone on the pier will have one and will help your,
but you can not depend on it. If you have none, you will just have to
walk the fish down the length of the pier to the beach, or break him off.
LEFT: Hoop Net
RIGHT: Bridge/Pier Gaff
12. Food as desired
13. Towel for holding fish, wiping hands.
14. Measuring stick. The Florida Sportsman magazine produces a
measuring stick, called the Law Stick, that is stamped with the
appropriate size limits for Florida's saltwater fish and is real handy.
These are sold at Walmart, Bass Pro, and other tackle and bait stores.
Half Hitch Tackle also has their own version.
16. Copy of Florida Fishing regulations with size limits, etc. You can pick
up at copy at Walmart, other sporting stores, or by ordering/printing from the FWC online at:
FLORIDA SALTWATER FISHING REGULATIONS
NOTE: Fishing regulations change often. Check the FWCs Hot Topics site for the latest: FWC HOT TOPICS
To print a Pier checklist, click here: PIER FISHING CHECKLIST
to start with and is not the final answer.
1. Three rod & reels
a. Light weight rod/reel/line for catching bait, throwing Pompano jig, Gotchas, etc.
- ROD: 7' Light action
- REEL: Light weight spinning or bait casting reel
- LINE: 8 to 12# test, monofilament or braid
b. Medium weight rod/reel/line rigged for free-lining for
King Mackerel and other larger predators.
- ROD: 8-9' Medium action
- REEL: Medium action spinning reel, ie Penn 750ssm
- LINE: 20 TO 30# test, monofilament
c. Medium weight rod/reel/line rigged for throwing lures to
Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, etc.
- ROD: 8 - 9' Medium action
- REEL: Medium action spinning reel, ie Penn 750ssm
- LINE: 20 to 30 # test, monofilament
2. Pier Cart to carry your tackle, cooler, etc. Let's face it, you have to walk a long way with a lot of stuff. If you are just going to
fish the pier a few times a year, borrow a kid's wagon and pull all your stuff in it. If you think you will be going more often, invest
in one of the wheeled fishing carts made for this. They sell them at Walmart and the tackle stores.
3. Tackle box or tackle bag with your terminal tackle and lures:
a. 3 - 4 Gotchas, rigged with 2-3' 40# fluorocarbon leader or wire leader. Chrome/red, Chrome/Green, White/Red
b. 3 - 4 Pompano jigs, your choice. White head with pink tail always a good one. Tied directly to your main line, no leader
required.
c. 3 - 4 Wire King Mackerel rigs for free lining live bait. Most people around here use a 2 treble hook rig on Malin wire.
The also sell these at the pier.
d. Chicken (Dropper) rigs or Pompano bait rigs: There are not many types of fish to catch on a bottom rig at the pier except for
bait, hardtails, and catfish. No grouper or snapper. But
your young kids will love catching things on them. You can catch
Pompano and Whiting just outside the surf line using a smaller version
of a Chicken rig tipped with a piece of freshly peeled shrimp.
They sell these at the Pier also.
e. Egg sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz
f. Pyramid sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz
Pompano Rig
g. Circle hooks, 2/0, 4/0, 6/0 as needed
h. Swivels, 80#
i. 3- 4 Bubble rigs (Rigged with Gotchas, McDonald straws, etc as desired.)
j. Bait as desired (Squid, shrimp, etc)
k. Needle nose pliars
l. Dehooker
m. Knife
n. Three to four packages of # 6 or # 8 hook Sabiki rigs if you plan to catch live bait
LEFT: Sometimes it helps
to bait the sabiki hooks
small pieces of squid.
RIGHT: Sabiki hook rigs
4. Back pack or shoulder bag to carry everything in.
5. Hat
6. Polarized sunglasses
7. Water and other beverage of choice
8. Sun Block
9. Flashlight for night fishing
10. Cooler with ice. Very important to keep your fish iced to keep it fresh. If possible, use a different cooler for your drinks and
food. If you have to use the same one as your fish, put your drinks and food in a plastic bag, but they will still probably smell like
fish.
11. Bridge/pier gaff with rope or hoop net. For the large fish. You will not be able to pull up a large fish on just your fishing line.
Most times someone on the pier will have one and will help your,
but you can not depend on it. If you have none, you will just have to
walk the fish down the length of the pier to the beach, or break him off.
LEFT: Hoop Net
RIGHT: Bridge/Pier Gaff
12. Food as desired
13. Towel for holding fish, wiping hands.
14. Measuring stick. The Florida Sportsman magazine produces a
measuring stick, called the Law Stick, that is stamped with the
appropriate size limits for Florida's saltwater fish and is real handy.
These are sold at Walmart, Bass Pro, and other tackle and bait stores.
Half Hitch Tackle also has their own version.
16. Copy of Florida Fishing regulations with size limits, etc. You can pick
up at copy at Walmart, other sporting stores, or by ordering/printing from the FWC online at:
FLORIDA SALTWATER FISHING REGULATIONS
NOTE: Fishing regulations change often. Check the FWCs Hot Topics site for the latest: FWC HOT TOPICS
To print a Pier checklist, click here: PIER FISHING CHECKLIST
FISHING LICENSES FOR THE PIER |
You do not need any type of license to fish any of the panhandle piers as they pier furnishes that to everyone. You do need to
follow all the appropriate state's fishing regulations on size and limits. If you are fishing the Alabama Gulf State Park pier, you
will need to purchase an Alabama Fishing License. For more information on Alabama licenses, go to:
State of Alabama Fishing Regulations
GULF STATE PARK PIER, Gulf Shores, Al Click here for more information on the GULF STATE PARK PIER IN GULF SHORES, ALABAMA |
View PANHANDLE FISHING PIERS in a larger map
Piers in the Destin Area |
