December 2025 — Panama City: Sheepshead Returns, State Snapper, Winter Setting In. December is a early winter month with water in the 60–68°F range — sheepshead returning to structure; redfish in deep holes; pattern shifts to winter mode. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics for this month.
What’s Biting — December 2025
Primary targets this month: Sheepshead, Redfish, Seatrout.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are stacked on hard structure for the winter spawn. Target St. Andrews jetties (east and west), the Hathaway Bridge spans, the DuPont Bridge, and Tyndall Pier pilings. Use fresh fiddler crabs or live shrimp on a #1 or #1/0 octopus hook with just enough split shot to hold bottom — sheepshead bite light, so feel for the slightest tap and set immediately. Vertical jigging right along pilings produces best; cast away from the structure and you’ll miss most of them.
Redfish
Winter reds are in West Bay grass flats, North Bay near Lynn Haven, Watson Bayou, Grand Lagoon docks, and the Cut behind Shell Island. Look for the warmest water in the system — dark mud bottoms, deeper canals, and creek mouths that warm fastest on sunny afternoons. Slow-rolled gold spoons, scented soft plastics on 1/4 oz jigheads, and live shrimp under a popping cork are reliable. Sight-fishing tailing reds on sunny low-tide flats is possible on the warmest afternoons.
Seatrout
Seatrout are gathering in the deep grass of West Bay, North Bay docks, Crooked Island Sound, and Watson Bayou. Larger fish (gator trout 20″+) hold in deeper potholes in 4–6 feet. Soft plastic paddletails (DOA CAL, MirrOlure Lil John) on 1/4 oz jigheads, MirrOdine suspending baits, and live shrimp under popping corks are the standard producers. Slow your retrieve as water cools.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 60–68°F. Sheepshead returning to structure; redfish in deep holes; pattern shifts to winter mode. St. Andrews Pass funnels enormous tidal volume; expect strong rips on both sides of slack. The best inshore bite windows on the bay flats are typically the two hours leading into and following a tide change.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — east winds tend to push clean water in, while strong westerlies can muddy the bays.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Slow it down. Cold water means cold fish — work jigs, soft plastics, and live bait with extreme patience. Bites are subtle.
- Fish the warmest water. Dark-bottom flats, deeper canals, and creek mouths warm fastest. Afternoons (after 2 PM) usually outproduce mornings in winter.
- Light fluorocarbon leader. 15–20 lb is plenty for inshore — winter water clarity is high and fish are line-shy.
December Outlook
Pattern shifts fully to winter — sheepshead return to structure, redfish concentrate in deep holes. By month’s end, the winter regime is locked in.
Regulations Reminder
Redfish: 18–27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify current FWC zone-specific rules). Seatrout: 15–19″ slot, three per day in most zones (verify current FWC zone rules). Sheepshead: 12″ minimum, eight per day. Always verify the current FWC regulations at myfwc.com before your trip — sizes, bag limits, and season dates change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Half Hitch Tackle (Panama City Beach, 850-234-2621); Sunjammers (Panama City, 850-769-1090); Anglers (Panama City Beach, 850-249-3300).
Public Boat Ramps: Earl Gilbert Park (St. Andrews), Carl Gray Park (St. Andrews), Lynn Haven Boat Ramp (North Bay), Mexico Beach public ramp.
Charter Fishing: $500–$800 inshore (bays, jetties); $1,400–$2,800 offshore (red snapper, AJ, grouper, deep drop). Book ahead during cobia migration (March–April), red snapper opener (June), and the fall run (October–November).
More Panama City Resources
Panama City Fishing Guide · Panama City Seasonal Calendar · All Panama City reports →
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