St. Andrews State Park Grand Lagoon Pier Fishing

St. Andrews State Park Grand Lagoon Pier is the park's sheltered pier, on the Grand Lagoon beside the boat ramp rather than on the open Gulf.

• Calm water that suits families and windy days
• Flounder, speckled trout, redfish and sheepshead, with mackerel and snapper in summer
• Park entry covers the piers; open 8 a.m. to sunset
• Playground, picnic tables, grills and restrooms by the boat ramp

The pier is inside St. Andrews State Park at 4607 State Park Lane, at the end of Thomas Drive on the east end of Panama City Beach, next to the park's boat ramp on the Grand Lagoon.

• Getting there: follow Thomas Drive to the park entrance and follow signs to the boat ramp
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year
• Fees: $8 per vehicle; access to the piers comes with park admission
• Parking: near the boat ramp
• The walk: a short walk from the picnic area to the pier

The lagoon is sheltered but close to St. Andrews Pass, so clean Gulf water and bay fish both reach the pier.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead on the pilings, speckled trout and redfish as the water warms, the first Spanish mackerel
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper around the pilings, flounder on the bottom, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jacks chasing bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best of the flounder and redfish, with trout moving in
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead, black drum and white trout on the bottom; trout on warmer afternoons

Light to medium spinning tackle with 10 to 20 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader suits the lagoon.

• Flounder: mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, dragged slowly along the bottom near the pilings
• Trout and redfish: live shrimp under a popping cork or on a 1/4 oz jig head
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader with a small, strong hook, tight to the pilings
• Mangrove snapper: small live baits or shrimp on a light leader in summer
• Spanish mackerel and jacks: small spoons when bait is showing
• A pier net helps with bigger reds and drum

Tides are small here, usually one a day, but water flows in and out of the lagoon from the pass with each tide.

• Fish the moving tide; clean incoming water from the pass brings the best bite
• The lagoon stays fishable when a south wind makes the Gulf side rough
• Early morning is best in summer, before boat traffic builds
• Flounder feed best in fall as the water cools
• After heavy rain, give the water a day to clear

This is the easiest and calmest fishing in the park.

• Boats use the ramp beside the pier: keep casts and lines clear of launching boats
• Leave the pier at the first thunder; summer storms build quickly
• Bring shade, water and sun protection
• Watch children near the edge and around hooks
• The park lists its two fishing piers among its accessible amenities, and restrooms with changing areas

The boat ramp area is one of the park's main day-use areas.

• A playground and swings, picnic tables, grills and restrooms by the boat ramp
• The Camp Store sells bait and tackle, ice and supplies, and rents kayaks and bicycles; check its hours, which can change with the season
• A double-sided concrete boat ramp
• Four first-come picnic pavilions in the park
• A campground on the Grand Lagoon

• Head here when the Gulf is rough: the lagoon stays calm
• Drag a mud minnow along the bottom beside the pilings for flounder in fall
• Buy bait and ice at the Camp Store on the way in
• Weekday mornings are quieter at the ramp
• Combine a session here with the Gulf pier and the jetties, all inside the same park entry

St. Andrews State Park is run by Florida State Parks, and posted park rules apply on the pier.

• Open 8 a.m. to sunset; the park entry fee covers the piers
• The park says a Florida saltwater fishing license is required, and all fishing must follow state rules on size, number, method of capture and season
• Spearfishing is not permitted anywhere in the park
• Keep the boat ramp clear for launching
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything