Blue marlin fishing out of Panama City Beach means running to offshore Gulf waters, where blue marlin are the main target of the port’s billfish tournaments. The fleet concentrates on them in June. This guide covers the tournament window, where boats run, the named reefs and wrecks off the beach with their depths, how the fish are fished, and who fishes for them.
When blue marlin are around Panama City Beach
The tournaments set the calendar. Teams that fish blue marlin out of this port plan around one month.
The June tournament window
The Bay Point Billfish Open and the Florida Panhandle Billfish Series are both usually held in June, and that is when the fleet puts its effort into blue marlin. Tournament teams build their schedules around these two events.
- Bay Point Billfish Open: usually June
- Florida Panhandle Billfish Series: usually June
For range, size, and seasonal movement beyond this port, see our blue marlin fishing guide.
Where Panama City Beach boats run for blue marlin
Marlin are an offshore target rather than a reef fish, and the run takes you well past the structure close to port.
Offshore Gulf waters
Boats run to offshore Gulf waters for blue marlin, passing the nearshore reefs and wrecks along the way. The reefs and wrecks in the next section are charted structure near port; the marlin are fished farther out.
For the wider offshore picture, see blue marlin in the Gulf of Mexico (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide). Check the official National Weather Service marine forecast before the run.
- Target: blue marlin
- Water: offshore Gulf waters
- Method: tournament billfishing
Named reefs and wrecks off Panama City Beach
These are the named, charted reefs and wrecks off the beach, with depths where they are known.
| Name | Type | Depth | Location note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAARS D Super Reefs | Artificial reef, five 18 ft modules (BC2015 sets 17 to 21) | 74 ft | Modules rest at 73 to 75 ft |
| Seltzer Reef | Artificial reef | About 3 nautical miles south of the M.B. Miller County Pier | |
| City Pier Reef | Artificial reef | About 3 nautical miles south of the city pier at Pier Park | |
| DuPont Modules 1 to 11 | Artificial reef modules, Bay County, FWC-funded 2012 | ||
| El Dorado | Cruise ship wreck | 103 ft | |
| Black Bart | Oilfield supply ship wreck | 75 ft | |
| USS Strength | Minesweeper wreck | ||
| Liberty Ship | 441 ft WWII wreck | 100 ft | About 10 miles offshore |
Chart layers such as Chart Contours show the depths around these sites, but they are not for navigation.
Artificial reefs
The SAARS D Super Reefs are five 18 ft modules from BC2015 sets 17 to 21, resting at 73 to 75 ft with 74 ft as the listed depth.
Seltzer Reef sits about 3 nautical miles south of the M.B. Miller County Pier, and City Pier Reef sits about 3 nautical miles south of the city pier at Pier Park.
The DuPont Modules 1 to 11 are Bay County artificial reefs funded by FWC in 2012, part of the Bay County artificial reef program.
Wrecks
The Liberty Ship is a 441 ft WWII wreck in 100 ft, about 10 miles offshore. The El Dorado is a cruise ship wreck in 103 ft, and Black Bart is an oilfield supply ship wreck in 75 ft. The USS Strength is a minesweeper wreck.
How blue marlin are fished here, and who fishes for them
Blue marlin out of this port are fished mainly in tournaments, and two events anchor the fishery.
Live and trolled baits
Blue marlin here are a tournament billfishing target, fished with live and trolled baits in offshore Gulf waters.
For method detail beyond this port, see our billfish guides.
Bay Point Billfish Open
The Bay Point Billfish Open is a Panama City Beach billfish tournament, usually held in June, with blue marlin as its main target. The winning fish was the 582.5 lb Briar Patch marlin, which shows the size of fish this port’s tournaments produce.
Check the Bay Point Billfish Open site for schedules and rules.
Florida Panhandle Billfish Series
The Florida Panhandle Billfish Series also fishes out of this port and is usually held in June. Check the series for its own schedule and rules.
FAQ: blue marlin fishing out of Panama City Beach
When is the main blue marlin season out of Panama City Beach?
The port’s billfish tournaments, the Bay Point Billfish Open and the Florida Panhandle Billfish Series, are usually held in June.
How big are winning blue marlin here?
The Briar Patch winning fish weighed 582.5 lb.
How far out is the Liberty Ship wreck?
It sits about 10 miles offshore in 100 ft. It is a 441 ft WWII wreck.
What methods are used for blue marlin from this port?
Tournament billfishing with live and trolled baits, in offshore Gulf waters.
Where are the rules for blue marlin?
Florida rules from FWC apply in state waters, and federal billfish rules apply offshore. Each tournament sets its own rules. See the Regulations section above.
