Paddleboard Therapy

One of Panama City Beach’s crown jewels sparkles this week as Chasin’ The Sun showcases St. Andrews State Park. Covering 1,200 acres and boasting more than one-and-a-half miles of beach along the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon, the park is one of Florida’s most popular state parks and an experience not to be missed.

A true angler’s paradise, St. Andrews State Park features two piers, a boat ramp and jetty teeming with fish.  Other amenities include a campground, nature trails and pavilion. The park is a popular spot for water activities including swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing.

Speaking of fishing, this episode recounts the paddleboard adventures of Capt. Travis Holeman and Capt. Justin Leake on the marshy flats near Panama City Beach.

The tide has been coming in all night, and redfish have pushed deep into the marsh where they’re cruising waters only a few inches deep. Conventional fishing boats can’t get close enough, so Justin and Travis anchor their Morada 24 just outside the fishing zone and use it as a “mother ship” launching pad. They head for the marsh with only the bare essentials because, as Justin explains, there’s no need for an arsenal of rods and reels and a tackle box full of lures when fishing from a paddleboard.

Locations in this episode

St. Andrews State Park