Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Harry Helms with Helms Fishing
Port St. Joe, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Spring is king, but beach season is here as the gobbles wind down and crawfish disappear. It’s now time to turn on your Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney playlist and comes sit on the world’s most beautiful beaches! Top water trout has really proven to be the best way to...

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Harry Helms with Helms Fishing Port St. Joe, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Spring is king, but beach season is here as the gobbles wind down and crawfish disappear.

It’s now time to turn on your Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney playlist and comes sit on the world’s most beautiful beaches!
Top water trout has really proven to be the best way to catch big keeper trout with this spring being especially good.
Schooling reds in the shallows have been regular visitors by my boat but with ultra clear water they are turning their nose up at lots of baits. Over slot (over 27”) fish have been very available cruising the flats so expect a big fight when you can get one of these pumpkins to eat.
We have lots to look forward too and it seems like this will be a summer to remember. So go grab a boat drink and a slice of key lime pie and come catch a few on the Emerald Coast.

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Jimmy Early
DeFuniak Springs, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

The redfish bite has been on! Was using artificial baits until today, they started hitting live menhaden. The wind has been out of the east, it came around west/ northwest last night but it didn't seem to bother the bite. Here is a couple pictures from the last couple days.

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Jimmy Early DeFuniak Springs, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

The redfish bite has been on! Was using artificial baits until today, they started hitting live menhaden. The wind has been out of the east, it came around west/ northwest last night but it didn't seem to bother the bite. Here is a couple pictures from the last couple days.

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Matthew Champion
Valparaiso, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing been awesome mahi, wahoo, & tuna. The bite is on fire right now!

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Matthew Champion Valparaiso, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing been awesome mahi, wahoo, & tuna. The bite is on fire right now!

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Joey Sauvageau
Destin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore fishing report- schools of Spanish mackerel can still be found on the incoming tide near the Destin pass and along the beaches, along with a few pompano and whiting in the surf. Red Fish are being caught near the Destin bridge on the outgoing tide along with the Destin...

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Joey Sauvageau Destin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore fishing report- schools of Spanish mackerel can still be found on the incoming tide near the Destin pass and along the beaches, along with a few pompano and whiting in the surf.
Red Fish are being caught near the Destin bridge on the outgoing tide along with the Destin Jetty’s.
The speckled sea trout bite has been slim to none, but the Best Bite has been early morning on grass beds using live bait.
Near shore, fishing report-
Rocks and reefs are holding lots of amber jacks, red snappers triggerfish in a variety of other reef species. King Mackerel are starting to show up along with Bonitas.

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Jason Mikel
Destin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Triggerfish and Vermilion Snapper fishing is incredible right now

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Jason Mikel Destin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Triggerfish and Vermilion Snapper fishing is incredible right now

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Greg Gladden
Panama City, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing was on fire until the recent blow

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Greg Gladden Panama City, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing was on fire until the recent blow

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Jason Shingler
Panama City, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Hey folks, Captain Jason here! Things are heating up fast. Water temperatures are rising to the level of welcoming all of those migratory pelagics to the panhandle. Also, the influx of bait fish seeking refuge on near shore structures has sparked a great bite from various snapper species, grouper, trigger...

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Jason Shingler Panama City, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Hey folks, Captain Jason here! Things are heating up fast. Water temperatures are rising to the level of welcoming all of those migratory pelagics to the panhandle. Also, the influx of bait fish seeking refuge on near shore structures has sparked a great bite from various snapper species, grouper, trigger fish, Jacks and a few others. King mackerel and Mahi will be on fire very soon.

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Cliff Atwell
Destin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Recent 6 hour trips. The Gags were released unharmed. We still have a really good vermillion snapper bite. Still some triggers around lots of red snapper catch and released. Spanish mackerel are biting early in the mornings.

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Cliff Atwell Destin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Recent 6 hour trips. The Gags were released unharmed. We still have a really good vermillion snapper bite. Still some triggers around lots of red snapper catch and released. Spanish mackerel are biting early in the mornings.

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