Kayaker lands first catch at Destin Fishing Rodeo

Derrick Dover of Mary Esther weighed in the first fish of the 78th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo. His 2.6-pound redfish was caught from his kayak, the Sea Note, at about 3 a.m. on October 1. Dover released about a dozen fish before catching the 19-inch keeper on light tackle. This...

Every Step Of This 5-Mile Florida Trail Is More Beautiful Than The Last And You Need To See It

There are places in Florida that make you feel like the state has been quietly showing off this whole time without telling anyone, and the Western Lake Trail in Santa Rosa Beach is absolutely one of those places. Five miles of trail, and every single one of them earns its...

Haunted Acres Florida returns with an expanded haunted trail

VERNON, Fla. (WMBB) – Kick off the spooky season with some guaranteed scares as Haunted Acres Florida gets ready to open its trail for the second year in a row. The haunted trail, located at 2948 River Road, is open every Friday and Saturday in October. Gates open each night at 7 p.m. and close […]

Topeka music venue brings star-studded lineups and fall festival experiences to Miramar Beach all month long

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - For music lovers looking for coastal views without the typical festival hassles, Topeka music venue at Seascape Golf, Beach & Tennis Resort is offering a fresh take on live entertainment. Over the past five years in Miramar Beach, the venue has pioneered an intimate, boutique...

Northwest Florida Fishing Report for October 2 – 8, 2026

In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya talks with Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters, Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing Charters, and Capt. Justin Leake of Panama City Inshore about an increasingly strong fall pelagic bite from Pensacola to Panama City. Sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and wahoo are all part of the conversation as clear water and huge concentrations of bait move close enough to give both kayak and boat anglers legitimate opportunities.

In Florida, weekly food pantry trips become routine as SNAP cuts and grocery prices bite

Rising grocery costs and cuts to food assistance are leading more families in Northwest Florida to rely on food pantries as a regular part of their weekly routine. For more families in Northwest Florida, stopping at a food pantry is no longer an emergency measure. Instead, it has become part of the weekly routine, a stark sign of how rising grocery costs and cuts to food assistance are making it harder for households to remain stable and for local organizations to keep pace.

Coffee shop owner rebuilds after losing everything in Hurricane Helene

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A Central Florida coffee shop owner who lost her business in Hurricane Helene has opened a new location on Navy Boulevard in Panama City Beach. Vicki Ferrari is the owner of Sweet Brewnette. She started the business in 2013 as a food truck in...

Comedy show at Historic Roberts Hall

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Comedy is performing at Historic Roberts Hall on Friday, Oct. 2, in Lynn Haven. Big Rich Brock and Mary Ellen Depetrillo will headline the event, starting at 7:00 p.m. Regular seating starts at $20, and front row seating starts at $30. To purchase...

Bloody Mary Festival at The Market Shops benefits Habitat for Humanity

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Sipping and supporting in Miramar Beach!. The 11th annual Bloody Mary Festival returns to the Market Shops, benefiting Habitat for Humanity!. NewsChannel 7 Today was joined by Aubrey Russell of Proffitt PR and Mike Kelley of Beach Liquors and Fine Wine. The fun is at...

These Bay County restaurants opened the first three quarters of 2026

We are now three quarters of the way through 2026. Here's an updated look at the restaurants that have opened so far this year in Bay County. To learn more about these new restaurants, please click on the links to our stories and check out the restaurants' websites and social media. Big Mama’s Coastal Country Cooking This Bay County favorite opened a Panama City Beach location on Aug. 31. Nilly's on Navy This establishment, formerly known as Nilly's Wine Bar, is under new ownership and is now serving delicious food in Panama City Beach. McDonald's Costa Family McDonald’s opened its 19th location, all of them in northwest Florida. The new location is 11852 Panama City Beach Parkway. Read more here. 7 Brew 7 Brew Coffee opened on May 4 at 2105 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Learn more here. The Bird & Brew The Bird & Brew Co. is officially open in Panama City Beach’s Pier Park. Learn more here. Juan Taco Juan Taco has opened a new location in Panama City Beach located at 11560 Panama City Beach Parkway. Learn more here. Sunrise Cafe & Bakery A second Sunrise Cafe & Bakery location opened at 319 Magnolia Ave. Learn

Brewing a fresh start, Sweet Brewnette opens in Panama City Beach

A Central Florida coffee shop owner who lost her business in Hurricane Helene has opened a new location on Navy Boulevard in Panama City Beach.

Skip The Crowds And Float Down These 8 Secret Lazy Rivers In Florida Instead

Want to skip the crowds and find secret lazy rivers in Florida worth floating?. These 8 natural waterways offer pure relaxation and stunning scenery you won’t believe!. 1. Spring Creek Park (Marianna) The Florida Panhandle doesn’t always get the credit it deserves for natural beauty, but Spring Creek Park...

Four Bay restaurants gets high-priority violations in state inspections

You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name . Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every week, we provide that information for you. For a complete list of local restaurant inspections, including violations not requiring warnings or administrative action, visit our Bay County restaurant inspections site . Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Bay County for the week of Sept. 21-27, 2026. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here. Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a "snapshot" of conditions present at the time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. For full restaurant inspection details, visit our Bay County restaurant inspection site . Which Bay County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections? These restaurants met all standards during their Sept. 21-27 inspections, and no violations were found. Big Mamas on The Bayou

Florida’s Best Fried Chicken Isn’t At A Chain, It’s At These 8 Family Kitchens

Florida has no shortage of drive-thru chicken, but the pieces people actually argue about at family reunions usually come from much smaller kitchens. From the Panhandle down to Broward County, independent restaurants are still frying chicken the careful way, with recipes that have outlasted trends and plenty of chains. This...

What we love best about the Destin Fishing Rodeo? Reel talk

Listen as people talk about what they love best about the Destin Fishing Rodeo - Destin's oldest tradition.

Gage Cowart previews new single ahead of release party in Panama City

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Country music artist Gage Cowart is gearing up to release his latest single, and he is giving the Florida Panhandle an exclusive first listen. Cowart will perform his new track, “Leaving You Behind,” tonight in Panama City ahead of its official midnight debut. Reflecting on a whirlwind year on tour, Cowart noted that momentum has been building quickly for him and his band.

Topeka Music Venue Upcoming Events

Anytime Fitness adds 360-degree core training to its gym floor

Anytime Fitness Panama City has added The Core Master, a 360-degree dynamic core-training platform, to its equipment lineup. According to a press release, the device allows users to perform exercises such as planks, rollouts and mountain climbers while training through multiple directions of movement. The manufacturer says the platform is designed to engage core muscle groups, including the abdominals, obliques and lower back, during workouts. "Members are very sore after they use the core master in our group trainings," Ben Golden, personal training program manager at Anytime Fitness Panama City, said after a demonstration of the device. "It's really helped members as far as their overall results and just overall quality of movement patterns." For more information, call Anytime Fitness Panama City at (850) 818-8184. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Anytime Fitness adds 360-degree core training to its gym floor

News 13 Pet Adoption Option: Dinger

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Meet Dinger, News 13’s Pet Adoption Option of the Week! Dinger is a four-year-old male Plott Hound who was brought to Bay County Animal Control back in August. Bay County Animal Control is located at 6401 Bay Line Drive, Panama City, FL 32404, or call (850) 767-3333. Dinger and all dogs […]

FOODIE FRIDAY: Beach Buns Ice Cream is popping up around the Panhandle

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - You may have seen them popping up all around the Panhandle... and it’s a sweet treat you ‘donut’ want to miss!. NewsChannel 7 Today was joined by the owners of Beach Buns Ice Cream. Rob and Leah Ortiz chatted about their journey and the flavors they offer.