Report for 10/01/2010
Salt Water
PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
The Red Snapper extension has come to pass and begins October 1st and ends November. 21st This extension is only for Fridays Saturdays and Sundays only. The King mackerel bite is decent with slightly cooler water temperatures and reports have big Wahoo and dolphin biting some twenty to thirty miles out in blue water. Red snapper continue to be all over our close to shore reefs and structures, and similarly so further off shore where you’ll find grouper too. Again reports have the best grouper action in or around one hundred fifty feet of water. Flounder have shown up in force with shorter days and anglers are enjoying catching them on live bull minnows fished from shore. Trout activity during the day is waning significantly however the early morning bite remains strong from daylight to about nine a.m. and again at dusk. Redfish remain sporadic throughout the bay, but anglers fortunate enough to hook up are finding them in perfect slot sizes.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
Get on your marks, get set –GO!!! Red Snapper season we have been waiting for is here (Oct. 1st thru Nov. 21st on Friday Saturday and Sunday only). The King mackerel bite has been very good, try finding a good tide line or watch for the birds diving on bait and you will have found them. Wahoo and Mahi Mahi have been hitting high speed trolling lures and slower trolled baits like rigged Ballyhoo out in the blue water (say twenty to forty miles out). Every now and then when the “blue water” comes closer to shore, you will hear of a lucky angler or two who boats one in state waters. Watching the loop current and temperature maps can help you figure out where to head. Some good Grouper have hit the dock from out in Federal waters, they are not able to resist a Ruby red lip or grunt. Amberjack will help you wear out your fellow anglers, bring along some jigs just in case you run out of live bait. It may just save the day.
These guys just anchored off shell island between the sand bars in 10 to 13 feet of water and this is what they caught. The one pictured is 51 pounds. In the picture are Hunter and Rhett. The bait of choice was big chunks of lady fish.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Flounder are showing up at the dinner table more and more, and these cooler temperatures will get them moving even better. They like rocky areas and a mix of grass and sand. Trout are a good bet up in the grass early and hiding behind a drop off during a falling tide later in the day. Drift a bait, live or artificial under a popping cork in the grassy areas, or flip a bait upstream of the drop off and wait for it to drift and sink down to where they are hiding. Reds are feeding on finger mullet and LY’s and are not as interested in much else, so your best bet is to cast net some of what they are after and offer it up. I am not saying they won’t hit something else but they will jump on a finger mullet or LY. Still plenty of Spanish mackerel to be found, good sized ones too. They will of course hit a Gotcha plug or spoon as well as live bait. Either use heavy mono (50lb) or wire to prevent losing your plug or hook.
PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
Lots of large Spanish mackerel, Ladys and Bluefish feeding on LY’s around the pier. Some King mackerel are getting caught just about everyday. The water has had a little algae these days but nothing extreme. No reports of Flounder or Sheephead yet but it should not be long, a few more of these cooler nights should do it. Pompano are starting to show up in the surf but not the fall run we are looking for yet. While prospecting for the first scouts of Pompano, some nice catches of Whiting have been had so it’s not a waste of time. Current water temp is around 83 degrees at the beach and it is dropping slowly each night.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment