Gulf Fishing Report: Snapper, Trout, and Pompano Bite Stays Strong Across Florida's West Coast

Artificial Lure here with your up-to-the-minute Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for Saturday, August 23, 2025. Skies are clear and the air's warm across the Panhandle and West Coast—perfect conditions for anglers hitting the water before that late summer blaze really kicks in. Sunrise came at 6:15 AM with sunset expected at 7:16 PM, so you’ve got over 13 hours of daylight to chase that bite.

Tidal action is moderate today, giving us good movement for Gulf species. Panama City Beach saw its first high tide around 10:14 AM at 1.73 feet, with a low at 5:47 PM hovering at 0.61 feet, typical for late August and ideal for inshore action as the flats start warming up according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Wave heights are lingering around 1 to 2 feet, with breezes keeping things steadily choppy—especially near thunderstorms, so be cautious and fish those rips for extra predatory action. According to the Statewide Weather Outlook, there’s actually low to moderate threat for rip currents but nothing dangerous for most anglers. Red tide reports from Florida Fish and Wildlife suggest no major blooms on the Gulf side and no fish kills, so expect clean water and hard-hitting fish.

Fish activity in these Gulf waters remains solid. Snapper season’s rocking in Alabama waters, but over on Florida’s west coast, red snapper continue to run deep reefs and ledges, and keeper-size mangrove snapper, vermilion snapper, and some white snapper are also in the mix according to Gulf of Mexico, Florida Daily Fishing Report. Gags and red grouper are steadily coming over the rail; most boats are limiting out early in the morning, especially off Clearwater and Destin. Live pinfish and cigar minnows are prime baits for bottom fishing, but cut squid and Spanish sardines aren’t far behind.

Inshore, Captain Justin Leak and Joe Baya from Northwest Florida Fishing Report are seeing big pushes of greenbacks and pilchards stacked up near the bridges, making for a frenzy of speckled trout and slot redfish in the grass flats around Panama City and Pensacola. Soft plastics in shrimp patterns, MirrOdines, and Gulp curly tails are all producing, especially at dawn and dusk. But don’t sleep on live shrimp, which has scored some bonus flounder and black drum in the deeper holes of the Bay.

Surf anglers near Cape San Blas and the barrier islands are finding whiting and occasional pompano in the troughs close to shore when the June grass lets up. Blake Hunter reports that fresh sandfleas are producing best, but Fishbites (shrimp flavor) and small pieces of cut mullet are running a close second. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and the odd bluefish are blowing up Gotcha plugs and silver spoons in the mornings around jetties and pier pilings.

Recent catches have been strong on the numbers: Offshore charters are tallying 6-10 red snapper per trip, two to five keeper sized grouper, and plenty of mingos. Inshore boats are reporting double-digit trout and reds on half-day runs, with bonus sheepshead still holding on the deeper pilings. Surf crowds are picking up buckets of whiting, with pompano numbers spotty but improving as we ease toward September.

Hot spots worth checking out today:
- The Destin East Pass for mixed bag action, especially snapper and reds on outgoing tide.
- Honeymoon Island State Park, where grass flats are holding schools of trout and aggressive reds.
- St. Andrews Bay bridge pylons for greenback-fueled trout blitzes.
- The beaches just east of Port St. Joe for whiting surf bites and the occasional keeper pompano.

For lure selection: Offshore, it’s tough to beat the classic chicken rig with cut bait. Inshore, Fishbites, DOA shrimp, and MirrOdines rule. Surf zone—simple float rigs with fresh bait always put fish on the sand.

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