Millville Waterfront Park Fishing

Millville Waterfront Park turns a stretch of working bayou shoreline in Panama City into a new neighborhood park, and its piers offer a free way to fish Watson Bayou from land.

• Two public piers over the bayou, reached by the park's own walking paths
• The Millville community redevelopment agency bought the 4.2-acre site in 2008; a fishing pier followed in 2013, and most of the park was finished in July 2026
• Speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead, black drum and summer mangrove snapper
• Playground, covered picnic areas and porch-style swings at the water's edge

The park is at 301 Maple Avenue in Millville, on the east side of Panama City, where the neighborhood meets Watson Bayou.

• Getting there: head east from downtown Panama City into Millville; the park lies on the west side of Maple Avenue, between the street and the bayou
• Entry: free; the city calls it a free outdoor space for residents and visitors
• Hours: dawn until dusk, as the city posts them
• Parking: the city's page does not describe it; city code allows parking in its parks only in designated spaces, so use marked spaces and keep out of the neighboring marina's lots
• Walking paths lead from the street to both piers, a short, level stroll

Watson Bayou opens into St. Andrew Bay, so bay fish move in and out of it all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead on the pilings early, then trout and redfish as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper around the pilings, ladyfish and jacks chasing bait, trout early in the day, pinfish in numbers
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best season, with trout and redfish feeding hard and flounder moving along the bayou edges
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum near the structure, white trout on the bottom on milder days

A 7 foot medium-light spinning outfit with 10 to 15 lb braid and a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader covers the bayou.

• Trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a paddle-tail soft plastic on a light jig head swum along the bottom
• Redfish and black drum: shrimp, crab or cut mullet on a sliding sinker rig near the pilings
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small, strong hook dropped tight to the pier supports
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a light leader and a small hook, fished beside the pilings in the late afternoon
• Flounder: a mud minnow on a Carolina rig, crawled back slowly
• Bring a landing net; lifting a good fish up to the deck is risky

NOAA's Panama City prediction station, the closest to the park, shows a small tide with one high and one low on most days, commonly about a foot of change and up to about two feet on the biggest days, so watch for moving water rather than a big rise or fall.

• Fish when the water is moving, especially the first part of the fall
• Wind can hold water in the bayou or push it out, sometimes more than the tide does
• Early mornings are best in summer; the park closes at dusk, so plan evening trips around that
• After heavy rain the bayou colors up; slow down and fish the bottom
• Cold snaps push trout and drum into the deeper water off the pier ends

The city describes the new park as accessible, with walking paths from the street to the piers, which suits families and anglers who cannot manage rough ground.

• Boats use the bayou from the neighboring marinas and the shipyard along this shoreline: keep lines clear of passing boats
• Do not cast into the private marina docks beside the park
• Summer thunderstorms build fast over the bay; leave the pier at the first thunder
• Wet decking can be slick, and children should be watched near the edge
• Bring water and sun protection for the hottest months

The city's July 2026 update lists the park's new amenities, which sit around the fishing pier built in 2013.

• The fishing pier and a smaller platform pier to the south, both reached from the walking paths
• Benches, a playground, covered picnic areas, pergola swings and shaded gathering spaces
• A drinking fountain and a bike repair station with a rack
• Restrooms were nearly finished in July 2026, so check whether they are open before you rely on them
• No bait or tackle shop in the park; buy bait beforehand

• Try both piers: the smaller platform to the south gives a second angle on the bayou
• Fish the pier pilings for sheepshead from late winter, when crabs outfish shrimp
• Watch for bait flipping along the shoreline at first light and cast a small jig to it
• Weekday mornings avoid the busiest park hours
• Pack out your line and bait bags so the new park stays clean

Millville Waterfront Park is owned and run by the City of Panama City.

• Open from dawn until dusk, as the city posts it
• Fish only from the park's piers and shoreline, not from private docks next door
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• City code bans alcohol in city parks and parking outside designated spaces; follow any rules posted on site
• Take all fishing line and trash with you
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything