For most visitors, Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller are the best Panama City Beach piers to fish. Russell-Fields suits anglers chasing deep-water species from a long, 24/7 pier, while M.B. Miller offers an equally solid public option with county-managed parking and resident permits. St. Andrews State Park rounds things out with a protected lagoon pier that fishes completely differently from the other two.

  • Russell-Fields City Pier: best for round-the-clock access and end-of-pier species like king mackerel and cobia

  • M.B. Miller County Pier: best for families who want the same fishing quality with easier resident parking

  • St. Andrews State Park piers: best for a sheltered lagoon bite and a change of scenery from the Gulf surf

Most public piers here sell a daily pier license on-site, and Florida’s saltwater pier license exemption covers you as long as that license is active. What’s actually biting shifts by season, so don’t expect the same lineup in July that you’d find in January.

Key Takeaways

Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller are Panama City Beach’s top public piers because both combine on-site licensing, bait and tackle, and strong deep-water fishing at the pier’s end.

Point Details
Choose your pier by need Pick Russell-Fields for 24/7 access, M.B. Miller for resident parking perks, St. Andrews for a sheltered lagoon bite.
License exemption applies A valid pier license usually covers you under the FWC pier exemption, except sharks.
Fish the right zone by season Target the pier’s end for cobia and king mackerel, nearshore for flounder and redfish.
Bring a card, not cash Bay County pier and parking fees are cashless and card-only.
Stay close to fish more Vacation rentals near the piers cut your commute and make early bites easier to catch.

Table of Contents

Pier Fishing Panama City Beach: Fees, Hours, and Facilities Compared

Picking a pier usually comes down to three things: what it costs, when it’s open, and what’s available once you’re standing on it. Here’s how the main options stack up.

  • Fees and discounts: Russell-Fields charges $7 to fish and $4 to spectate, with reduced rates for seniors, military, and disabled visitors, and kids 6 and under fishing free. M.B. Miller lists comparable daily fishing fees through Bay County. St. Andrews State Park works differently: you pay a park entry fee to get in, and pier access is typically included once you’re inside.

  • Hours and access: Russell-Fields runs 24/7, which matters if you want to fish a pre-dawn tide or a late-night king mackerel run. St. Andrews operates on standard state park hours, so overnight fishing isn’t an option there.

  • Bait, tackle, and rentals: Both Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller keep bait and tackle on-site, so you can show up without gear and still fish within minutes.

  • Parking: Bay County residents can apply for a free parking permit through the Passport Customer Portal at M.B. Miller, while visitors pay standard lot rates at all three locations.

One heads-up before you go: pier and parking fees at Bay County facilities are cashless, card only, so bring a debit or credit card rather than counting on cash.

Pier Profiles: Russell-Fields, M.B. Miller, and St. Andrews

Each pier has its own personality, and knowing the layout before you arrive saves you a lot of wasted casts.

  1. Russell-Fields City Pier. Stretching over 1,500 feet into the Gulf, this is the pier most visiting anglers picture when they think of Panama City Beach fishing. It’s open 24 hours a day, sells daily licenses on-site, and stocks bait and tackle so you can rig up on arrival. The end section, where the water runs deepest, is where you’ll find anglers targeting king mackerel and cobia, while the middle stretch tends to produce Spanish mackerel and pompano.

  2. M.B. Miller County Pier. Also built to roughly 1,500 feet, M.B. Miller mirrors Russell-Fields in design and fishing quality but is run by Bay County rather than the city. The standout perk here is the resident parking permit, processed through the county’s Passport Customer Portal, which makes repeat visits much cheaper for locals. On-site refreshments and bait/tackle service round out the amenities.

  3. St. Andrews State Park piers. This park actually gives you two very different fishing experiences: an exposed Gulf-facing pier and a sheltered pier inside Grand Lagoon. The park entry fee covers your access, and pier fishing itself typically carries no extra charge once you’re inside. The lagoon side is calmer water and tends to favor different species than the open Gulf pier, making it a good option on days when wind and surf make the beachfront piers rougher to fish.

Pro Tip: If the wind is howling out of the south and the Gulf piers are getting hammered by chop, head for the Grand Lagoon pier at St. Andrews. The protected water often keeps fishing usable even when conditions elsewhere are miserable.

Do You Need a License for Pier Fishing in Panama City Beach?

Florida’s rule is straightforward: anglers fishing from a pier covered by a valid saltwater pier license are generally exempt from needing an individual saltwater fishing license. That’s why Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller both sell daily pier licenses right on-site, and why most visitors never need to buy a separate state license just to fish there.

Sharks are the exception. If you’re targeting or even attempting to catch a shark from any pier, anglers 16 and older need a shore-based shark permit in addition to whatever pier license covers your regular fishing. That requirement doesn’t get waived by the pier exemption.

  • Buy your daily pier license at the pier office when you arrive; bring a card, since most Bay County facilities are cashless.

  • Check current bag and size limits before you keep anything, since rules change.

  • Bay County residents should set up their free parking permit through the Passport Customer Portal ahead of time to skip the daily lot fee.

What Fish Are Biting on the Pier by Season?

Species turn over throughout the year, and where you stand on the pier matters almost as much as when you show up.

  • Spring: Cobia and Spanish mackerel move through, and they’re often spotted from the end of the pier, especially during steady onshore winds that push bait close.

  • Summer: King mackerel and sharks take over the deeper water off the pier’s end, which is also when shark permit rules come into play if you’re targeting them.

  • Fall: Flounder start migrating and redfish push closer to shore, so the nearshore and middle sections of the pier often outproduce the end.

  • Winter: Sheepshead become the reliable target, though bites can slow considerably on cold fronts. Adjust your bait size and patience accordingly.

Local guides also point to cobia, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, redfish, pompano, and flounder as the species most commonly reported from Panama City Beach piers across the year. Since regulations shift by species and season, check the Fish Rules app before you keep anything, rather than relying on memory or last year’s limits.

Gear and Rigs That Actually Work From the Pier

You don’t need a boat-sized tackle box to fish these piers well. A few rig choices cover almost everything you’ll encounter.

  1. Match your rod to your target. A medium spinning setup handles pompano and Spanish mackerel fine, while king mackerel and cobia call for heavier gear with real backbone.

  2. Bait selection matters more than lure color. Live shrimp works for pompano and sheepshead, cut bait draws in king mackerel and sharks, and small metal jigs cast well for Spanish mackerel when they’re schooling near the surface.

  3. Rig choice depends on the target. A fish-finder rig is the standard for flounder and pompano working the sandy bottom, while a heavier leader with wire is worth using for king mackerel and cobia at the pier’s end. Circle hooks improve survivability for released fish and are worth using where they don’t compromise your bite.

Pro Tip: Watch the water, not just your line. Diving birds, nervous baitfish, and dolphin activity near the pier usually signal a feeding lane worth casting into.

Give your neighbors room when the pier gets crowded, wear real sun protection, and drink more water than feels necessary. Pier staff rules on line spacing exist for a reason.

Accessibility and On-Site Amenities

Russell-Fields provides ADA access and beach-accessible wheelchairs through the pier attendant, so ask at the office when you arrive if you need one. Both Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller keep bait, tackle, restrooms, and light food service on-site, cutting down on extra errands.

Accessible fishing pier with amenities and wheelchair

Russell-Fields also sits close to Pier Park, making it easy to combine a morning of fishing with shopping or dinner without moving your car.

View from fishing pier towards Pier Park shops

A Local Checklist Before You Head Out

Check the tide chart and the Fish Rules app the night before, not the morning of. Pack polarized sunglasses and real sun protection, since pier days run long. Bring a card for pier tickets since most locations don’t take cash. And if you’re chasing a popular bite window, like an early cobia run in spring, get there before the sun’s fully up. Anglers who plan to stay a few days near the water often look at nearby vacation rentals to make early mornings easier.

— Joe

Stay Steps From the Pier and Skip the Morning Drive

Panama City Beach vacation rentals put you within walking distance of Russell-Fields or a short drive from M.B. Miller and St. Andrews, which matters more than it sounds like once you’re hauling a cooler and rod holders at 5:30 a.m. A beachfront condo gives you somewhere to rinse off gear, stash the day’s catch in a real kitchen, and let the family head back for a nap while you keep fishing the evening bite.

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Browse Panama City Beach vacation rentals and filter by proximity to the piers, then check dates for your trip. Families who want to pair fishing mornings with pool afternoons often do well booking a beachfront condo near Pier Park, where the walk to Russell-Fields takes minutes instead of a parking-lot search.

Sources

About the Author

Joe Godar of the PanamaCityBeachFlorida.com Editorial Team creates destination guides, vacation-planning resources, and local travel content focused on Panama City Beach, Florida.

Our team researches local beaches, vacation rental trends, family activities, restaurants, attractions, events, and direct-booking best practices. Every guide is created to help travelers plan more confidently, experience the best of Panama City Beach, and avoid unnecessary third-party guest service fees.

PanamaCityBeachFlorida.com is part of the Emerald Coast by Owner marketing family, connecting travelers directly with verified vacation rental hosts throughout the Gulf Coast since 2016.

This article was reviewed for accuracy and updated using local destination research and current Panama City Beach vacation rental market insights.