Saint Andrew Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Saint Andrew Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Sq. miles: 18
Boat Ramps: 8
Access Points: 0
Species: 45

Saint Andrew Bay is a 69,000-acre bay and estuary located in Bay County near Panama City in Florida's northwest panhandle. It is a relatively deep bay with high salinity due to limited freshwater inflow, primarily from spring-fed creeks like Econfina Creek. The bay's clear, pristine waters span over 20 miles of diverse habitats, including grass and sand flats, rock masses, deep channels and cuts, and extensive oyster beds. This makes it an exemplary fish habitat ideal for sight fishing and wading. The bay is situated next to St. Andrews State Park, with the Gulf of Mexico on the park's opposite side.

Florida licenses and regulations6 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Saint Andrew Bay and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Atlantic Bonito

Sarda sarda

Atlantic Croaker

Micropogonias undulatus

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Atlantic Spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Black Grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

Blue Runner

Caranx crysos

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Crevalle Jack

Caranx hippos

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Goliath Grouper

Epinephelus itajara

Gray Triggerfish

Balistes capriscus

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Greater Amberjack

Seriola dumerili

Gulf Flounder

Paralichthys albigutta

King Mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla

Ladyfish

Elops saurus

Lane Snapper

Lutjanus synagris

Little Tunny

Euthynnus alletteratus

Lookdown

Selene vomer

Mahi-Mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Mutton Snapper

Lutjanus analis

Northern Kingfish

Menticirrhus saxatilis

Pigfish

Orthopristis chrysoptera

Pinfish

Lagodon rhomboides

Red Grouper

Epinephelus morio

Red Snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

Scamp

Mycteroperca phenax

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Snowy Grouper

Hyporthodus niveatus

Southern Flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Southern Kingfish

Menticirrhus americanus

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Saint Andrew Bay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Saint Andrew Bay

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Florida licenses and regulations

Florida Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Florida Coastal & Inland Waters

Florida state waters extend 3 nautical miles from shore on the Atlantic coast and 9 nautical miles on the Gulf coast, making Florida unique in that the boundary shifts by coast. FWC regulations apply throughout state waters, and a saltwater fishing license is required to fish anywhere in them. Beyond those limits, federal waters begin and federal rules take over.

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Florida Federal Waters & Offshore Rules

Once you pass the state water boundary, NOAA Fisheries and the regional fishery management councils, including the Gulf Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, set the rules. No separate federal recreational license is required to fish federal waters, but anglers must follow all applicable federal regulations alongside any state license already held. Species such as tuna, billfish, sharks, and swordfish are managed as Atlantic highly migratory species under NOAA Fisheries, which may carry additional federal permit requirements.

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Florida Saltwater Fishing License

Florida residents and non-residents ages 16 through 64 need a saltwater fishing license to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, crabs, clams, or other saltwater organisms. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issues the license, and it is required whether you fish in state or federal waters as long as you land fish in Florida. Exemptions include anglers under 16, Florida residents 65 and older, and passengers on for-hire vessels whose captain holds a vessel license.

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Florida Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

Size and bag limits apply per species and can change throughout the year, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets and maintains the current rules. Popular species with active regulations include snook, redfish, grouper, snapper, and flounder. Always check the FWC regulations page before you head out, since limits and seasons are updated regularly.

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Florida Shellfish Closures & Advisories

Harvesting oysters and clams recreationally requires a standard saltwater fishing license, and certain areas such as Apalachicola Bay require an additional permit. Shellfish harvesting areas are opened and closed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services based on water quality, red tide, rainfall, and public health guidelines, and those closures apply to everyone. Current open and closed status maps for all coastal regions are posted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at their shellfish harvesting area classification page.

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Take Saint Andrew Bay with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

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Download the map around Saint Andrew Bay to use it offline when coverage drops.
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Keep a private fishing journal for Saint Andrew Bay to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)

On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Saint Andrew Bay and check the marine forecast before you launch.

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