Fishing Report
Here’s your **updated fishing report** for **Pensacola to Panama City, including Destin**, with **sheepshead removed** since they’re not actively biting right now:
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## 🎣 Bay & Offshore Fishing Report
**Region: Pensacola ➤ Destin ➤ Panama City**
**Date: July 28–August 1, 2025**
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### 🐟 INSHORE / BAY REPORT
#### **Pensacola Bay**
* **What's biting**: Redfish and speckled trout are the main targets right now. Trout are hitting topwater baits early in the morning on grass flats. Redfish are cruising docks and deeper structure.
* **Bait & tactics**: Live shrimp, white gulp jerk shads, and MirrOlure topwaters are producing. Morning rising tide has been best.
* **Hot zones**: Big Lagoon, the ICW near the Navy base, and Fort Pickens flats.
#### **Destin / Choctawhatchee Bay**
* **What’s biting**: Slot redfish are showing up around grasslines and bridges. Speckled trout are scattered across the bay flats and moving to deeper water as temps rise.
* **Bait & tactics**: Early morning bite on topwater plugs; switch to soft plastics or live croakers/shrimp as the sun climbs. The south side of the Mid-Bay Bridge and Hogtown Bayou have been solid.
* **Other notes**: Schools of jacks and Spanish mackerel are pushing bait up near the Destin Pass — bring flashy spoons or small Got-Cha plugs.
#### **Panama City Bay**
* **What’s biting**: Redfish are steady on flats and nearshore edges, especially early morning and dusk. Trout are biting around deeper potholes and dock lights.
* **Bait & tactics**: Paddle tails on 1/4 oz jigheads, and free-lined live shrimp. Fish the east side flats near Tyndall and the north shore grass edges.
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### 🐠 OFFSHORE REPORT
#### **Pensacola to Destin**
* **Snapper bite**: Still hot on public and private reefs in 60–150 ft, but keepers are getting harder to find with pressure and season ending soon (**closes July 31**).
* **Other species**: Good catches of vermilion snapper, scamp grouper, triggerfish (catch-and-release), and the occasional cobia and amberjack (also catch-and-release).
* **Pelagics**: King mackerel and mahi-mahi are cruising weedlines and bait balls 10–25 miles out. Trolling with cigar minnows, spoons, and dusters is productive.
* **Conditions**: Water clarity is decent with mid-80s surface temps. Best action has been in the early morning and near tide swings.
#### **Destin to Panama City**
* **Bottom fishing**: Strong bite on beeliners (vermillion snapper) and red grouper in 100–200 ft. Live cigar minnows and squid on chicken rigs are working great.
* **Trolling action**: King mackerel bite is heating up from 3 to 12 miles out. Blackfin tuna possible near the edge.
* **Hotspots**: Try the Edge, Nipple, and Southwest Ledge for pelagics. For bottom drops, focus on Chicken Bone Reef and surrounding natural bottom.
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### 📅 Solunar & Tide Outlook (July 28–Aug 1)
| Date | Best Bite Window | Tide Info (Destin) |
| -------- | ---------------------- | --------------------------- |
| July 28 | 6:30–9:00 AM & 6–8 PM | High tide @ 8:41 AM |
| July 29 | 7:10–9:30 AM & 6:30 PM | Low tide @ 2:25 PM |
| July 30 | 6:50–9:00 AM | High tide @ 9:55 AM |
| July 31 | 6:30–8:30 AM | *RED SNAPPER SEASON CLOSES* |
| August 1 | 6:20–8:00 AM | Increasing solunar activity |
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### ✅ Quick Tips
* **Snapper season** ends July 31 — plan offshore trips accordingly.
* Fish **early and during moving tides** for best inshore results.
* **Live bait** and **early morning topwaters** are key right now.
* **Keep cool** and fish safe — heat index is high, and afternoon storms are popping up.