Panhandle Fishing Report 3-16-10

Report for 03/16/2010

Salt Water


MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Once again, this week, cold wind, and rain have blown another week of fishing into history but the local charter captains are booking a few early season trips and we will soon have more details about fishing offshore. Check next weeks fishing report for further information.

ST. JOE BAY
Spring is approaching quickly now with warmer weather and warming water temperatures. Anglers are reporting the concentrations of trout in the ICW are slowly dispersing back to the bay. There are few reports of baitfish schools, anglers do however report seeing, and catching squid in the deeper areas of St Joe Bay. The baitfish will not be far behind. Overall things are shaping up nicely for a great fishing season. On another note, the flounder bite is by all reports, beginning. Get ready!

PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
Bonita are being caught around the pass and up and down the beaches. The Amberjack bite has been steady over the bridge spans and any large structures. Glow jigs and Butterfly jigs work well and if you can manage to find some live bait works as well. Beeliners and white snapper (Porgy) have been steady in the 120 ft range on frozen squid. Grouper season will remain closed through March 31st.

ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
A few Pompano are showing up along the beaches. Black Drum and Sheepshead are being caught around the jetties with live shrimp and fiddler crabs. White Trout and Whiting can be found in deep water under the Hathaway and Tyndall Bridges, but some searching to find the schools may be in order. Use live shrimp on a Carolina rig for best results. The Bull Reds are still being caught with live shrimp and pinfish around the jetties. Speckled Trout are being caught in deep bayous, creeks, the intracoastal waterway and the hot water discharge canal.

DESTIN
Spring has arrived and the season is once again ready to kick off. Lately there have been a few Sheepshead and Redfish around the Destin Bridge and Jetties. A few reports of Pompano along the beaches but not a lot. Offshore there has been a good bite of Amberjack, Triggers and Mingo Snapper. A few bass are starting to move in the golf course ponds.

Cobia should arrive some time over the next three weeks, The water temp is 57 degrees and needs to be 63 degrees to get one along the beach. Reports of Cobia about 20 miles out but none on the beach.

Same for the Spanish mackerel as they could show up any day now that it is warming, the old wife’s tale for them to start biting is after the 3rd day of heavy fog.

Fresh Water
Local tournament officials tell us that bass fishing is hot and getting better as water temperatures continue to warm. Bass are starting their spring spawning patterns. Anglers should be looking to the shallows for bedding bass. Lake Wimico and Depot creek, along with Howard creek are all producing nice stringers of bass this season.


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.