This week on the Northwest Florida Fishing Report, the show runs the full “good, bad, or ugly” spectrum as winter conditions slow things down across the Emerald Coast. Joe Baya checks in with Justin Reed of Justin Reed Surf Fishing Charters for an honest surf update and a practical breakdown of the non-negotiable gear that makes spring runs more productive. Then Jim Cox previews the Emerald Coast Boat and Lifestyle Show (and why boat shows are the best way to compare layouts, pricing, and options side-by-side). The episode wraps in Panama City with Capt. Justin Leake of Panama City Inshore, covering the grindy late-winter bite, how to locate fish concentrations in protected water, and the lures and live bait tactics that still put trout and redfish in the boat.
Conditions Recap
Across the region, it’s a classic deep-winter setup: colder water slows metabolism, tightens bite windows, and turns most days into a patience game. On the beach, the surf has produced a lot of “no action” trips with the occasional single-fish day being a win. Inshore around Panama City, the biggest challenge is the unstable pattern shift—temperatures bounce enough that fish don’t settle into a consistent winter rhythm, and the early edge of spring can warm water before bait truly floods in. The theme this week is simple: when it’s tough, stop chasing scattered water and focus on protected zones that hold concentrations of fish, then slow down and fish deliberately.
Surf Report With Justin Reed (Pensacola / Navarre)
Justin Reed says the surf bite has been slow and inconsistent, with many no-fish days and “one fish is a good day” conditions. Most of the action has been a mix of redfish, black drum, and occasional bluefish, with pompano largely absent in the cold water (and with sand fleas buried too deep to be a consistent natural food source right now). Historically, Justin expects the first signs of life in March, but warns about “false runs” where social media lights up for a day or two before things go quiet again. For a more dependable pompano presence in the Pensacola-to-Navarre stretch, he looks toward mid-April for consistency.
With spring approaching, the conversation shifts to getting ready. Justin’s practical “how many rods do you really need?” answer is two to four, and he won’t run more than four by himself because it becomes harder to track where bites are happening and to repeat the pattern once you find the cruising lane. On rod length, he prefers nine- to ten-foot rods for the fun factor and lighter feel, but still keeps twelve-foot rods in the rotation for days when sandbars are farther out, current is heavier, or you need extra distance and higher line angle above the waves. If you’re buying your first surf rod and want one length that can cover most conditions, the twelve-footer is the safe “do-it-all” choice, even if the nine- to ten-foot range is more enjoyable when conditions allow.
For reels, Justin likes a 5000 size on both his nine- and twelve-foot setups. His reasoning isn’t about drag ratings or line pickup as much as it is torque and durability—repeatedly reeling four-ounce sinkers through sand is hard on smaller main gears, and he wants the reel that handles that grind over time. He uses 4000 size reels more on lure setups where he’s walking and casting constantly, but for set rigs and repeated weight retrieval, the 5000 is his workhorse.
On tackle, sinker choice matters. Justin keeps sputnik-style sinkers ready for rough days and strong current when you have to hold bottom, and he specifically mentions “Sputniks” from Sinker Guy as a go-to option because they lock in when pyramids won’t. On calmer days, he’ll save money and fish simpler with pyramid weights or storm sinkers. As a baseline, he brings roughly two sinkers per rod (and often more) because one stingray, bad tangle, or break-off can burn through your pile quickly and end the trip early.
For rigs, Justin says a confident “pompano rig” is the one you should always have, even if you’re catching a mix of species. He ties his own rigs to save money (especially when fishing multiple times a week), but notes that quality pre-tied rigs from local tackle shops are absolutely fine for anglers who don’t want to build their own. He’ll run both single-drop and double-drop versions depending on the season and conditions—single drops when fishing is slow (or when he wants maximum casting distance), and double drops in spring and summer when a second bait in the water helps draw attention and adds more scent. One detail he likes is fishing two different levels in the water column by adding a float on the top dropper while keeping the bottom dropper simpler (bead or bare hook) to cover more of the zone.
Line choice is braid for the main line, primarily for added casting distance and long-term value. Between braid and the rig, Justin often adds a 12- to 20-foot mono topshot rather than tying braid directly to the rig. He likes the extra stealth, the added stretch to help keep softer baits like sand fleas from flying off on the cast, and the extra abrasion buffer when something like a shark rubs the line. For the braid-to-mono connection, he prefers the FG knot for its slim profile through the guides, with the double uni as a simpler alternative that can “thump” more on the cast.
Hook-wise, Justin’s year-round standard is the Owner Mutu Light circle hook, usually in size 1. He says it holds exceptionally well on pompano and still handles big black drum if you manage drag properly instead of trying to horse the fish in.
If Justin had to pick three baits for spring surf fishing, he’d go with sand fleas first, then blue crab, then fresh dead shrimp. He’ll still test ghost shrimp, but once sand fleas show up, they become his confidence bait and the one he’s most excited to fish because they consistently produce without the prep hassle.
On the “non-fishing” gear that still decides how good your day is, Justin’s essentials include solid pliers, a good pair of scissors (he prefers cutting bait with scissors because it’s faster and easier than a knife), and sand spikes. For hauling gear, he’s a big believer in a beach cart, and he strongly recommends balloon tires because standard small wheels bog down in Emerald Coast sand. He also calls out water as a must-have (he’ll bring a gallon jug and can go through most of it), plus a sand flea rake as one of the best investments a surf angler can make because it turns bait into a repeatable, low-cost advantage.
Emerald Coast Boat and Lifestyle Show Preview With Jim Cox (Panama City Beach)
Boat fever is real, and Jim Cox lays out why shows are the smartest way to shop when you’re making a big investment. He explains the biggest difference between the Wharf Boat and Yacht Show in Orange Beach and the Emerald Coast event: Orange Beach offers on-the-water access where sea trials are part of the experience, while the Panama City Beach show is a massive, regional gathering where you can climb on a wide variety of boats and compare layouts in one place before narrowing your options down.
This year’s Emerald Coast Boat and Lifestyle Show runs March 6–8 at Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach, right across from Pier Park. Expect a wide spread of boats—bay boats, center consoles, pontoons and tri-toons, cruisers, and personal watercraft—plus major engine manufacturers on site supporting dealers. Jim notes that boat show incentives are a real thing because manufacturers and dealers lean into first-quarter programs, extended warranties, and event-only pricing to move inventory as the season starts.
Financing options are available through dealers, and some bring specialized programs designed to make it easier to step into a new rig and potentially refinance later if rates shift. Beyond boats, the “lifestyle” side includes coastal living vendors and accessories, apparel, furnishings, marine art, electric golf carts, seminars (including sessions hosted by Half Hitch), live music, and food and drink options. Tickets and show information are available at emeraldcoastboatshow.com, and free parking is part of the plan.
Panama City Inshore Report With Capt. Justin Leake (Panama City)
Capt. Justin Leake says the fishing has been a grind, but the upside of tough weeks is that they force anglers to eliminate water and hunt for something better. Cold-sensitive species concentrate in winter patterns, feeding slows as metabolism drops, and even when you find fish, bite windows are often small. The extra challenge in the Panhandle is that winter doesn’t lock in long enough to create a stable, repeatable “true winter” program—temperatures swing hard, and fish keep shifting with them.
When he does find success, it often comes from protected, deeper creeks and bayous that stay out of the wind, especially where fish can stack up into a “feast or famine” concentration. He describes a common look: four to six feet of water with a dark, soft bottom rather than hard sand. Those darker, silty areas can warm a little more efficiently and seem to draw fish that are trying to stay comfortable. Wind exposure matters too—areas that look great on a map can fish poorly if they’re whitecapping and constantly mixing and cooling the water.
Justin likes to use lures to locate fish, then slow down and switch to high-percentage bait when he wants to stay and catch. In cold water, his “small and slow” search tool includes suspending jerkbaits, because that pause and hang time triggers reaction bites while keeping the lure in the strike zone longer. In clear winter water, he leans on natural baitfish color patterns and mentions a Berkley Stunna jerkbait as one that’s been producing, noting the similarity in profile to the needlefish trout often key on.
Once fish are located, live shrimp becomes the cleanup hitter. He’ll fish it on a Carolina rig with a short leader or on a jighead (often hooked through the tail), and he points out the obvious advantage: trout, redfish, and drum all eat live shrimp, which makes it the most reliable “get bites” option when conditions are fickle.
Looking ahead, Capt. Justin watches water temperature for the real turn. He starts getting excited in the high 60s, with 68–70 degrees being a sweet spot when bait, Spanish mackerel, and a broader spring pattern starts to settle in. He notes the water has climbed back into the low 60s, but there’s still ground to cover before the spring bite fully opens. He also mentions that while the beach bite hasn’t been great, nearshore reef fishing in roughly 80 to 100 feet has shown promising life and should improve as spring conditions stabilize. For trips, guide options, and updates, find him at panamacityinshore.com.
