Report for 05/21/2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Grouper fishing picked up this week with respectable fish brought to the docks. The bite is over natural bottom starting at about 180’. Large live baits accounted for most of the larger fish. The king mackerel catches are increasing on the buoy line. Dusters and cigar minnows Yozuri Hydro-Mags and stretch 30’s are accounting for these catches. Closer inshore, the Spanish mackerel are still being caught along the buoy line and over at crooked island. Trolling a plain Clark spoon seems to be the best option for the bigger Spanish.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Some nice big trout caught this week on live LY’s and many over the slot redfish too. The head of the bay is the place to be especially with the winds we have been dealing with. In the head of the bay, the best area seems to be right between Black’s Island and the shoreline. Using a Cajun thunder float or free lining bait while drifting will pay off in fish. Pay attention to the deeper holes as most fish are hanging out at the bottom of the holes. Some Spanish mackerel are still moving around inside St Joseph Bay from the buoy line to Blacks island and huge schools of ladyfish and bluefish being reported outside Eagle harbor. The flounder bite is still happening around the deeper holes near the head of the bay and around Black’s Island but has slowed significantly under the Tapper Bridge.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
King mackerel are being caught in great numbers. They are being caught in close and out further trolling and free-lining. Several reports of Mahi Mahi being caught from 6-8 miles out are coming in. Spanish mackerel are biting sporadically out on the beaches. Grouper are still biting well from 7-10 miles out. Use large live baits to get past the Snapper! Lots of AJ’s are still being caught around the 100 foot mark over bridge spans and large wrecks.
Capt. Phillip Money, Sure Catch Charters with a 90# Cobia caught this week
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Flounder are being caught on the beach close to the state park using live bull minnows. Ladyfish, Bluefish, and Spanish mackerel are biting well at the jetties on spoons and Gotcha Plugs. Mangrove snappers and Sheepshead are still being caught off the rocks with live shrimp. Redfish have been found on the flats in East Bay; while Bull Reds are still being caught with live shrimp and pin fish around the jetties. Trout are being caught on the flats with topwater lures early and live shrimp under a cork later.
NAVARRE
SURF
The Cobia have just about gone for the season, but there are plenty of King and Spanish mackerel to keep us busy. The Tarpon have showed up early too. Pompano, Redfish, Bluefish and Skipjack (ladyfish) are showing up in increasing numbers as the water continues to clear. This week should see an increase in landing if the wind stays mild. The Pompano and Redfish are hitting best on live sand fleas and fresh shrimp just outside of the first sand bar. Silver spoons and Bubble rigs are working best for the fast moving Spanish, Bluefish and Skipjack.
SOUND AND BAYS
Navarre area anglers can expect to see Redfish and Trout on the flats early and late in the day. They should also see an increase in Flounder landed as they continue to migrate into the shallows to chase bait fish. The Trout are responding best to a popping cork rig with a live or D.O.A. shrimp. Spanish, Blue and Skipjack are also making a good showing with small schools popping up along the area flats. These fish are feeding on the schools of menhaden and threadfins that have begun to show up in increasing numbers. Speaking of increasing number, Flounder are being caught around docks in the sound with Tiger minnows. Gold spoons are taking their share, but it may be time to break out the 1/4oz jig head with GULP! Shrimp or jerk bait combinations and specifically target the Flounder. These same baits will also take the Redfish, so it’s a win win situation for you.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
King are biting strong in and around the passes and inshore reefs in 60 to 80 feet of water. Trolling or fly lining live cigar minnows when anchoring up had been the top producer. Dolphin have also started to show up on the few weed lines that have begun to make their way toward shore. 1/2oz to 1oz buck tail jigs or live cigar minnows free lined near the weed line or any floating structure will get the job done. Just remember to leave one hooked fish in the water to keep the school around when you encounter a large school. The near shore reefs and wrecks are also producing good numbers of Grouper, Black Snapper and Trigger fish. Just remember to have a spinning rod rigged up with a pitch bait in case a Cobia shows up.
OFFSHORE – GULF
Wahoo and Dolphin have been showing up in greater numbers this week. Most of the hoos are being caught while fast trolling between bottom spots. The Dolphin are being caught while trolling the edges of increasing weed lines or by free lining live baits near the weed lines. Tripletail are on the same weed lines as well, so keep an eye out for them. Keep a rod rigged and ready so you can cast a live shrimp or small baitfish to them when the opportunity presents itself. Without a doubt the hottest bite this week has definitely been Red Snapper. Most fish caught have been in the double digits. Just remember that Red Snapper opens June 1, so release them until then. The Grouper bite has remained strong with the larger fish coming in 150 plus feet of water. Fish the largest bait you can find. The blue water bite has exploded this week with the influx of clean water. The Yellowfin bite has been exceptional with most fish being caught during daylight hours. Poppers, jigs and slow trolled ballyhoo will all work. But for the really big fish, a bridled bonito or large blue runner bump trolled around the rigs is the way to go.
Fresh Water
Great shell cracker/bluegill action happening in the rivers. Live crickets or wigglers fished outside of structure are working great and fly-fishing action is really turning on in the river. The bass action is a little slow. Try the new zoom super hog in green pumpkin purple, pumpkin, and June bug. There have been some reports that the bass are biting buzz baits in the Dead lakes. However, generally this time of year the best baits are soft plastics.
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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