Our Grand Lagoon marinas, boat owners, and restaurants, and others who are members of the Grand Lagoon Coalition along with our Tourist Development Council (TDC) were proud to bring to you our annual Freedom Rocks event this past Fourth of July weekend. If you missed it, you’ll definitely want to mark your calendars for July 2022.
Boats were available to take visitors into Grand Lagoon to watch the fireworks fly, with Grand Lagoon businesses and bridge as a backdrop; they also offered ample parking at their businesses to get a view landside. Restaurants around the area provided all that great seafood you have come to enjoy, as well as a great vantage point for the fireworks. Magic Broadcasting stations played patriotic favorites as a soundtrack to the celebration of freedom. Several boats also left from the marinas on Sunday evening, July 4, to see the fantastic display hosted by the City of Panama City and the TDC downtown. If you haven’t seen the fireworks from St. Andrews Bay, plan for it in 2022! The local stations will provide the background music for this display also.
Fishing? It’s been a great season! We can put you on some great fishing spots, but you do the ‘catching’! You are all getting better all the time! Great job!
Worth a reminder…when you are planning your trip be sure to stay ‘in the know’ about your fishing options and regulations. For accurate regulations and season dates you first must determine whether you are fishing from a federally permitted boat, a state (only) charter boat, or a private recreational boat.
Our federally licensed and permitted boats’ head boat and charter boat season began June 1 and runs through August 2 at 12MN. Reserve early for these trips from our local marinas – Capt. Anderson’s Marina, Lighthouse Marina, Pirate’s Cove Marina, Treasure Island Marina (all located on Grand Lagoon). Others are located at St. Andrews Marina in town. These boats purchase annual fishing licenses for all who fish with them, so no personal license is necessary.
The private anglers and state charter boats have their season determined by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). According to their website, www.myFWC.com, the private anglers and state [only] charter boats’ season will end July 28 this year.
The FWC says, “If you plan to fish for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from fishing license requirements, you must sign up as a state reef fish angler (annual renewal required) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.”
Our passengers are not required to wear masks if they are outside on open decks.
When planning your fishing trip, remember Capt. Anderson’s Marina… where the fish are always biting and the kids are always smiling. Visit captandersonsmarina.com.
