BAY COUNTY OUTDOORS (BCO) in cooperation with Bay County Recreation is promoting a King Mackerel Pier Tournament on the M. B. Miller Pier. Registration is FREE! It is simple to register and only requires your Name, contact Phone Number and Email. The Six Week Tournament will begin at 06:00 a.m. Sunday, September 28, 2025, and end Sunday, November 09, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Registration is FREE. You can enter by sending your Name, contact E-mail and your Phone Number to Sam by Texting, Messenger or E-mail here: Text-770-265-2879 or E-mail- SLP053@BELLSOUTH.net
The tournament prizes will be fishing tackle, provided by the following sponsors: Rapala and 3rd Coast Lures, NO CASH. There will be two places:
1st: $500.00 equivalent of tackle plus a bonus prize provided by Bay County Recreation Department.
2nd: $350.00 equivalent of tackle
Sam Patrick will be the Tournament Official to weigh and record all entries. He will weigh fish Sundays through Fridays between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and on Saturdays between 1:00pm and 7:00pm. If he is not on the pier, you can call him at: 770-265-2879 during the listed weigh in hours. If you weigh in the top two fish by weight, you can win both places. In case of a tie, the first fish weighed will take the lead in that category. The fish must be caught from the M.B. Miller Pier. The fish must be hooked and caught by a single angler using a lure or natural bait. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) laws and regulations, all Bay County Pier regulations, and Tournament Rules must be followed, or the angler will be disqualified.
Tournament Rules
1: Tournament begins 06:00 a.m. September 28, 2025, and ends November 09, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and will be awarded a 1st and 2nd place winner.
2: Fish must be caught from the M. B. Miller (County) Pier.
3: Fish must be hooked and caught by a single angler using a lure or natural bait. No assistance landing the fish other than by a net or gaff.
4: Anglers must be registered with Bay County Outdoors - King Mackerel Tournament prior to entering a catch. Registration is free and only requires your name, email, and contact phone number.
5: Sam Patrick is the designated Tournament Official and will register and certify all entries.
6: Rapala and 3rd Coast Lures are the prize sponsors. One bonus prize, donated by Bay County Recreation, will be awarded to the 1st place winner.
7: Official weigh-in will be between 10:00am and 6:00pm Sundays through Fridays and between 1:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturdays. Sam can be contacted at 770-265-2879 during the official weigh-in times to enter a catch.
8: In the event of a tying weight fish, the first caught will take priority. A single angler may win both 1st and 2nd place with two qualifying fish.
9: All Tournament rules, FWC laws, Bay County Recreation and Pier rules must be followed, or the angler will be disqualified.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 85.5 NNE 5mph in the a.m. / 86.9 ENE 6-12mph in the p.m. Slow day with a few Spanish Mackerel.
Friday: water temp 85.6 ENE 10-15mph in the a.m. / 86.9 NE 8-15mph in the p.m. The water was clean. The day started out crowded. Gary B. caught and released a 32-inch Bull Red Drum. Chuck O decked a nice slot Red Drum. There were a few Bonita in the early morning. Spanish Mackerel kept everyone entertained in the afternoon. Alewives, Cigar minnows, Pin fish and Spanish Sardine were available for live bait.
Saturday: water temp 84.9 ENE 7-13mph in the a.m. / 85.5 NNE 6-10mph in the p.m. The water was clean. There were a few Bonita in the early morning. Spanish Mackerel kept everyone entertained in the afternoon. Yellowtail Jacks were caught too. Alewives, Pin fish and Spanish Sardine were available for live bait.
Sunday: water temp 84.7 ENE 7-12mph in the a.m. / 85.3 N 4-7mph in the p.m. The water was clean. Red Drum were active in the shallows. There were a few Bonita in the early morning. Spanish Mackerel kept everyone entertained in the afternoon along with Yellowtail Jacks. Alewives, Pin fish and Spanish Sardine were available for live bait.
Monday: water temp 85.3 NE 7-10mph in the a.m. / 85.5 SE 13-17mph in the p.m. The water was clean. Early morning saw small to average Spanish Mackerel and one very small King Mackerel. The afternoon saw Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish. There were small Hardtails, Pin fish and Alewives available for live bait.
Tuesday: water temp 84.4 S 20mph in the a.m. / 86.5 SE 5-10mph in the p.m. The water was clean. There was one King Mackerel, and one Tarpon hooked and lost in the morning. There were also Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish biting. Small Hardtails, Pin fish and Alewives were available for live bait,
Wednesday: water temp 84.6 S 13-20mph in the a.m. / 86.2 SW 10-13mph in the p.m. The water was clean. There were small to average Spanish Mackerel and a couple of very small King Mackerel in the morning. More Spanish and some Ladyfish in the afternoon. There were pin fish, small Hardtails and Alewives available for live bait.
Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Saturday Aug. 23, 2025 – Full Moon Sunday Sept. 07, 2025
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Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:09am Sunset: 7:23pm
Friday 2:23pm Low 0.4 2:19am High 1.6
Saturday 3:38pm Low 0.1 3:00am High 1.8
Sunday 4:36pm Low 0.0 4:03am High 1.9
Monday 5:30pm Low -0.1 5:34am High 2.0
Tuesday 6:20pm Low -0.1 7:12am High 2.0
Wednesday 20th. 7:06pm Low 0.0 8:27am High 2.0
Sunrise: 6:13am Sunset: 7:17pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
FRIDAY
Northwest winds around 5 knots, becoming west in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
FRIDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 10 knots, diminishing to around 5 knots after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
SATURDAY
North winds around 5 knots, becoming west around 5 knots in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds around 5 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the evening.
SUNDAY
Northeast winds around 5 knots, becoming southeast around 5 knots in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds around 5 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY
East winds around 5 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY NIGHT
South winds around 5 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening
(local forecas
FRIDAY (89/78 rain 15% wind W-09)
SATURDAY (91/78 rain 46% wind NW-07)
SUNDAY (90/77 rain 43% wind NE-07)
MONDAY (89/77 rain 24% wind ENE-07)
TUESDAY (90/78 rain 20% wind ENE-06)
WEDNESDAY(90/79 rain 24% wind WNW-09)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Vince Martin – Bay Co. Parks Division Manager - vmartin@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6580
Timothy Pentice- Bay Co. Asst. Div. Mgr. – tprentice@baycountyfl.gov – 448-217-4219
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
SLP053@BELLSOUTH.NET
770-265-2879
