Lighthouse Marina on Grand Lagoon — Panama City Beach Marina Guide

A visitor guide to Lighthouse Marina on Grand Lagoon — its role in Panama City Beach charter fishing, the Grand Lagoon Billfish Classic, and nearby dining and experiences.

By BeachLoco Editorial Team

Lighthouse Marina is the working heart of Grand Lagoon, the charter district that drives Panama City Beach fishing. Serving the local boating community since 1979, it sits on the north shore of the lagoon with protected access out through the pass to the Gulf — the short run to deep water that makes this stretch of Panama City Beach an offshore destination rather than only a beach one.

Most visitors know Panama City Beach from the Gulf side. Grand Lagoon, a few minutes inland across the Thomas Drive peninsula, is a different world in character: charter docks, head boats, and sportfishing crews working the same water year-round.

Where Lighthouse Marina Is

Lighthouse Marina is on North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, Florida 32408, on the Grand Lagoon side of the Thomas Drive peninsula. It is only a few minutes from the beachfront, but the setting is a working waterfront rather than a resort strip.

The geography is the point. Boats leave Grand Lagoon, run out through the pass, and are on blue water quickly. That access is the practical reason the lagoon supports a serious offshore fleet, and why a tournament based here can put boats on the fishing grounds fast.

Marina Information

Lighthouse Marina
Grand Lagoon · Panama City Beach, Florida

⌖ 5325 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
✆ 850-234-3939
◷ Hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CT, seven days a week
↗ Official Marina Website

Hours and marina operations can change seasonally. Verify current information before visiting.

Its Role in Panama City Beach Boating and Offshore Fishing

Grand Lagoon is the working heart of the local fishing industry, and Lighthouse Marina sits in the middle of it. The surrounding docks host charter boats, head boats, and private sportfishing crews operating through the year, and the marina functions as a base for that activity rather than as a beach attraction.

For a visitor, that concentration is useful: the fleet's departures and returns happen within a compact district, and the restaurants, charter offices, and boat traffic are all part of the same waterfront.

The Grand Lagoon Billfish Classic

The marina's highest-profile week is the Grand Lagoon Billfish Classic, presented by the Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club and held entirely at Lighthouse Marina. The second annual edition ran August 5–9, 2026.

Where the Bay Point Billfish Open is the established Panhandle showpiece, the Classic reads as a club event that grew quickly — three days of offshore competition, a release-weighted scoring system built around blue marlin, and a single Saturday evening weigh-in in the middle of the charter district. The club also runs the Skinny Water Shootout, the Snapper Showdown, King of the Lagoon, and a season-long tournament, so the Classic sits inside a wider local competitive calendar.

For spectators, almost everything worth watching happens on one dock, on one evening, and it is free: the 2026 weigh-in ran Saturday only, 5:00–8:00 PM at the marina. Full format, species, awards, and spectator detail are covered in the Grand Lagoon Billfish Classic event guide. Dates beyond 2026 had not been confirmed by the organizers at the time of writing, so treat any later date you see elsewhere as projected.

Charter-Fishing Context

Tournament week showcases the offshore fleet, but the Classic is a team tournament with a substantial entry and is not something a vacationing angler drops into. What a visitor can do is fish the same grounds in the same season. Charter boats and head boats run daily from Grand Lagoon, a few hundred yards from the tournament dock.

Private charter: your own boat and crew for the day, and the only realistic way to reach the blue water the tournament fleet targets.
Head boat: pay-per-seat bottom fishing on the reefs — far cheaper, no experience needed, and the practical family option.
Book ahead in summer: August is peak season on top of tournament week, and the better boats fill early.

Our Panama City Beach fishing charter guide explains the trip formats, the Panama City Beach fishing charters guide covers local marinas, and the fishing charters hub is where to compare boats directly.

What Visitors Should Know About the Marina Area

This is a working waterfront first. Parking, dock access, vendor areas, and viewing boundaries can change with the season, the size of the fleet, and marina operations. During events, follow the official schedule and marina instructions rather than assuming every dock or slip is open to the public.

Practical notes

Arrive before an anticipated fleet return rather than at the final check-in minute.
Follow marina staff instructions and keep working docks and boat lanes clear.
Bring sun protection and water — reflected heat around a marina stays intense late in the day.
Wear comfortable, stable footwear suited to marina surfaces.
Pack a compact rain layer for fast-moving Gulf weather.
Supervise children closely near the water and near returning boats.
Coolers, chairs, pets, and outside food may be restricted in active event areas; confirm current policy rather than assuming general waterfront rules apply.

BeachLoco does not publish slip counts, fuel services, rates, hours, or access policies for the marina. Those details should come directly from the marina or event organizers, since they change and are not something a travel guide should approximate.

Getting There

By air: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is the local airport and the practical arrival point for visitors flying in.
The marina district: North Lagoon Drive, on the Grand Lagoon side of the Thomas Drive peninsula.
Getting around: Panama City Beach is spread along a long beachfront road, and the marina, the beach, and Pier Park are not walkable from one another — a car is the normal way to move between them.

Where to Stay Near Grand Lagoon

The geography is simple: the marina is on Grand Lagoon, the beach is on the Gulf side, and the two are minutes apart by car.

Thomas Drive and the Grand Lagoon area: closest to Lighthouse Marina and the charter docks, quieter than the main strip, and the obvious base if fishing is the reason for the trip.
Beachfront Panama City Beach: the Gulf-front towers and condos, best if the marina is one evening of a beach week.
The west end near Pier Park: furthest from the marina but closest to shopping, dining, and family attractions.

For higher-end options, see our guide to luxury resorts in Panama City Beach. Book on normal summer timing — peak season fills regardless of the tournament calendar.

Dining Near the Marina

This is the part of Panama City Beach where the seafood comes off boats tied up nearby.

Captain Anderson's: the long-standing dockside seafood institution on Grand Lagoon, a short drive from the marina.
Schooners: beachfront rather than lagoon-side, and a local choice for a sunset dinner after a weigh-in.
Pineapple Willy's: casual Gulf-front dining with live music, easy with a family.
Family-friendly restaurants: a wider set of options across the beach.

For more tables on the water, our guide to waterfront dining in Panama City Beach covers lagoon- and Gulf-side restaurants across town.

Nearby Panama City Beach Experiences

Point South Marina at Bay Point: the other side of the local offshore scene, on St. Andrew Bay east of the beach corridor — see the Point South Marina guide.
St. Andrews State Park: beaches, shoreline scenery, and a view toward the pass used by the offshore fleet.
Shell Island excursions: a way to see the bay-and-pass geography from the water.
Pier Park: shopping, dining, and entertainment farther west along the beach corridor.
More to plan: the guide to things to do in Panama City Beach and the wider Panama City Beach destination page.
Event calendar: check BeachLoco events for other confirmed activities during your travel dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Lighthouse Marina?

It is on North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, Florida 32408, on the north shore of Grand Lagoon.

How long has it been there?

Lighthouse Marina has served the Panama City Beach boating community since 1979.

What is the marina best known for?

It is the host venue of the Grand Lagoon Billfish Classic and sits in the middle of the Grand Lagoon charter fleet.

When is the Grand Lagoon Billfish Classic?

The second annual edition ran August 5–9, 2026. Later dates had not been confirmed by the organizers at the time of writing.

Can visitors watch the weigh-in?

The 2026 weigh-in was held Saturday only, 5:00–8:00 PM at the marina, and admission was free. Confirm hours and viewing areas with organizers before arrival.

Can I book a fishing charter from Grand Lagoon?

Yes. Charter boats and head boats run daily from the district. Start with the Panama City Beach fishing charters guide, and book well ahead in summer.

Is the marina a beach attraction?

No. It is a working waterfront. Public access varies with operations and events, so follow posted instructions and staff direction.

Marina operations, access policies, and event details change. Confirm hours, parking, public access, and schedules directly with the marina or event organizers before traveling.