Russell-Fields City Pier Fishing

Russell-Fields City Pier is one of the longest piers on the Gulf, run by the City of Panama City Beach across from the Pier Park shopping district. It is open every hour of every day.

• More than 1,500 feet long into deep, clear water
• Kings, cobia and Spanish mackerel from the end; pompano, reds and flounder near the beach
• Low-cost daily and annual passes for anglers and spectators
• Dogs are allowed on the beach west of the pier, but not on the pier

The pier is on Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach, directly across from the main entrance to Pier Park.

• Getting there: follow Front Beach Road to Pier Park; the pier is on the Gulf side
• Parking: the pier lot fills quickly; there is more parking across the road at Pier Park
• Entry: daily fishing and spectator passes, with discounts for seniors, military and disabled visitors and free entry for young children; annual, three-month and 20-visit passes are sold
• Hours: open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Access: a handicapped-accessible ramp at beach access 56 on the west side, and free beach wheelchairs with a form and a valid ID

The pier sees the full Panhandle run of Gulf migrants.

• Spring (Mar–May): cobia along the rails, pompano near the beach, Spanish mackerel and bluefish, first kings in May
• Summer (Jun–Aug): king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and little tunny off the end; whiting and redfish close in
• Fall (Sep–Nov): kings and bull redfish with the mullet run, pompano back, flounder
• Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, sheepshead on the pilings and redfish; the 24-hour access suits night sessions

Bring two outfits: a light rod for mackerel and bait, a heavy rod for kings and cobia; only one can be fished at the rail at a time.

• King mackerel: live hardtails or cigar minnows on a light-wire stinger rig, free-lined from the end (trolley rigs are not allowed)
• Cobia: a heavy bucktail or live eel sight-cast to cruising fish
• Spanish mackerel: gotcha plugs and silver spoons on 30 lb fluorocarbon
• Pompano and whiting: pompano jigs or double-drop rigs with sand fleas or shrimp
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs on a short leader at the pilings
• Bring your own bait, and a pier net or rope gaff for big fish

Tides are small and often diurnal; clean water and bait schools matter most.

• Clear, green water on a light onshore breeze is best for pelagics
• A moving tide keeps bait working along the rails
• Murky water after a south blow slows the kings; fish the bottom close in
• Dawn and dusk are prime; nights are good for reds
• The spring run begins as the Gulf warms into the low 70s °F

A wide, level pier in the middle of Panama City Beach's busiest stretch.

• Leave the pier at the first thunder; summer storms build fast
• No shade on most of the deck; bring water and sun protection
• Crowded rails in a run; mind treble hooks and backcasts, and never cast toward swimmers, surfers or boats
• Rip currents are common along Panama City Beach; lifeguards cover the beach from April through September, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but never swim near the pier
• No sitting or standing on the rails, no running, and shoes are required
• Level deck and an accessible beach ramp; free beach wheelchairs are available with ID

Facilities come mostly from Pier Park and the beach around the pier, since the pier itself is kept simple. Plan to arrive with everything you need for a session.

• The city lists the pier's bait shop as closed; bring bait and tackle from a Panama City Beach bait shop
• Benches along the deck
• Seasonal lifeguards on the beach and six volleyball courts beside the pier
• Free beach wheelchairs
• Restaurants and shops at Pier Park across the road

• Buy bait before you arrive, since the pier bait shop is closed
• Catch hardtails on a sabiki early and use them for kings off the end
• In April, cobia cruise the rails; look down from a high spot with polarized glasses
• Pompano feed near the first bar, not at the end
• Parking is the hardest part in summer; try early mornings or park at Pier Park
• Night sessions are quieter and good for reds

Russell-Fields City Pier is run by the City of Panama City Beach, whose code and posted rules govern the pier; violators can be trespassed.

• A daily fishing pass is required to fish from the pier; ask at the gate whether it includes license coverage, and otherwise carry your own license
• No shark fishing, shark rigs or shark reels, no chumming, no trolley rigs and no bagging out baits
• No more than three rods per person and only one at the rail; no cast nets past the first T and no gear past the yellow line at the end
• No pets, alcohol or glass on the pier
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything