Report for 09/18/2008
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Some grouper caught about 40 miles out. Big dead baits such as butter flied Spanish or Boston Mackerel are working very well. Red and black snapper are biting strong around the inshore wrecks starting at 10 miles out. Live pinfish caught the majority, but good numbers brought in using cigar minnows. King mackerel fishing picked up this week and the majority of the fish are out 15-20 miles and averaging 10-15 pounds. Flat lining while bottom fishing is again the most effective method in bringing kings this week. Spanish mackerel are thick along Mexico Beach and on the buoy line.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Redfish are still off the grass flats and sand bars and the best time is first thing in the morning. Live LY’s are plentiful and are the bait of choice, but the Capt Mikes spoon with the green reflective tape is not far behind. The trout are mixed in with these schooling redfish and are swallowing baits whole. A few nice trout were caught outside Pigs Island and around the middle grounds. Live shrimp free lined is working well. Do not be afraid to use a Topwater or other artificial baits in the morning and late afternoon as these are still catching nice trout and redfish as well. Mirrolures and Berkley gulp are working well along with the Cajun Thunder popping corks. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the bay in nice numbers. A Christmas tree rig is still your best bet, and it will pick up some bluefish too. A few pompano were caught this week around pompano point on a pink fairwater jig.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
The inshore Grouper bite is still excellent! Every structure within 9 miles seems to be holding fish. No need to run out 20 miles right now. Take some big live baits and get ready for action!
Black Snapper are still biting good. These fish can be caught over most any of the in-shore wrecks and reefs. The key to catching them is to lighten up. Use 1 or 2 oz’s of lead, light wire 4/0 or 5/0 circle hooks, 30 or 40# fluorocarbon leader and live cigar minnows or herring.
The Red Snapper bite has remained very good. It is generally not hard to get a limit within state waters. Live cigar minnows, herring and even alewives are excellent baits. Red Snapper season is closed in Federal waters. The State Snapper season remains open within 9 miles from shore until November 1st.
King Mackerel are plentiful offshore and near shore. Trolling has picked up while most of the fish are being caught free-lining live baits.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Trout are all over deep grass beds in all of the bays. Live alewives will produce better sized fish, while grubs and topwater plugs will yield the most strikes.
Redfish are spread out over the bay systems. On a high tide, the redfish will be laying up in the flooded Spartina Grass. Top water plugs, weedless jerk baits and gold spoons will take these fish out of the grass.
Bluefish, Spanish and Ladyfish are plentiful on all of the major points around St. Andrews Bay, the Middle Grounds, and Camel Back Shoals.
DESTIN
It has been a week of quality fishing. The reds are very good around the Destin Bridge, Midbay Bridge and pass.
The red snapper and kings have been very good near shore on live cigar minnows that have been plentiful around the pass. The grouper are also very good on the natural bottom.
On the pier good numbers of reds and some Spanish. There have been a few pompano and a stray king or two. Blues and ladyfish are the staple.
In the surf the pompano are picking up and there are plenty of sharks.
NAVARRE
SURF
Fishing for Pompano has started to pick up this week. There have been some reports of good fish being caught. Best baits remain live or frozen sand fleas and live and frozen shrimp. As the water continues to cool, the Pompano bite will increase. There are a lot of Ladyfish (skipjack), Spanish mackerel and Bluefish to be caught as well. Bright spoons, Gotcha plugs, Straw Rigs, Top Water and regular plugs will catch them. Live and frozen Shrimp will take them too. There is no shortage of sharks to catch on the beach, there have been a lot of reports of Bull and Blacktip sharks caught using Bonito and Skipjack (ladyfish) for bait. September and October should be great months for surf fishing.
SOUND AND BAYS
Trout remain on the grass flats in three to five feet of water. If you have no luck there try to go deeper, say five to nine feet. You can catch your biggest Trout early and late in the day on top water baits and on live baits. Live Shrimp, Tiger Minnows, Pinfish, Menhaden and Mullet all catch Trout. A host of artificial lures will catch them as well. Redfish can be caught on the same live baits and artificial lures. Work all visible and underwater structures to increase your chances at landing a red. Skipjack, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel and Flounder can all be caught in the bay this time of year. Flounder fishing should start to pick up with gradually cooling water. King Mackerel will be in the bays from now until the water gets to cold. Try slow trolling live baits in the pass, along the three mile bridge and in front of the Palafox Pier. You can also anchor and chum for them. Put your live bait under a balloon and wait for Mr. King to come along.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
There have been some good reports of King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel caught right off the beach in the last few weeks. Live Cigar Minnows and Blue Runners (hard tails) are the bait of choice. If there are large schools of bait around the King and Spanish Mackerel are not far away. Jack Crevalle have also been caught while fishing for King and Spanish Mackerel. The big Redfish have begun to show up in the pass. Jigs, cut bait and live bait all take these fish. You may encounter a slot Red while fishing, but be sure to put the big ones back. I have heard of Cobia being caught on the inshore reefs with some consistency. Use live baits or jigs to catch them.
OFFSHORE – GULF
The bottom fishing for Snapper and Grouper remains very good. Live bait and frozen bait will work on both. Don’t be surprised if an Amberjack shows up, especially if you are jigging with Butterfly jigs or fishing with live Hardtails. Black Snapper (Mangrove) have been on all the reefs this year. Use live shrimp and live Tiger Minnows. However, they will eat the same baits as Red Snapper. I have had some reports of Cobia being caught over some live bottom here lately. Don’t forget that Federal waters are closed to Red Snapper but State waters (within 9 miles) remain open. I have had some good reports of Yellowfin Tuna being caught around the offshore oil platforms. Most anglers are trolling, jigging or chumming. Look for weedlines and floating debris if you are interested in catching some Mahi Mahi, Wahoo and other species. There was a report of a good weed line about 40 miles due south of Pensacola Pass that was holding some good Mahi Mahi last weekend.
Fresh Water
The largemouth bass are holding around tributaries and hitting spinner baits regularly. For the big boys, fish wild shiners along the grass lines, or if you want to use an artificial, your best bet will be a shallow running jerk bait or topwater plugs along the shore.
Half Hitch Tackle
850-234-2621
2206 Thomas Dr
Panama City, FL 32408
www.halfhitch.com
Fishing Report prepared by Half Hitch Tackle Staff.
The Captains Corner Fishing Report is provided by local charter captains and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Half Hitch Tackle.
This report is dedicated to the memory of Al Hubbard.
Al Hubbard was a field editor for Florida Sportsman magazine, an outdoor writer for the News Herald and a board member of the Florida Outdoor Writer's Association.
Mr. Hubbard was also the owner of Al's Outdoors Outfitting Services.
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