Panhandle Fishing Report 11-5-2010

Report for 11/05/2010

Salt Water


PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
Red Snapper weekends are a success! Anglers taking advantage of the re-opening have been rewarded with their limit of big fish. The sixteen inch size limit isn’t a problem either, more often than not anglers are reporting that they have caught some of the largest snapper ever. However, the weekend warriors fishing the close to shore wrecks report a great bite but overall sizes are smaller than our anglers fishing in deeper waters. Black Snapper, Amberjack, and Triggerfish are also biting well over these deep water wreck and reefs. King Mackerel are still around and again this week the clue you’re looking for is bait fish and birds.
Flounder catches are steadily improving along the forgotten coast. Anglers are reporting a consistent bite thorough out the bay and shore fishermen are doing particularly well beneath the George Tapper Bridge and its surrounds.
Speckled trout activity is changing with the smaller trout beginning to start their migrations into the creeks and bayous while the larger fish are hanging tight on the flats. Early in the morning still remains your best bet and nothing gets the blood flowing like using top water plugs. Fish early and be home for brunch.



PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
Not much Red snapper season left now but there are plenty of big snapper being caught. They are of course hitting cut bait as well as live, but jigging for them is also productive and a lot of fun. The Red snapper season is now thru Nov. twenty first on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Some very nice Gag grouper have been caught on those offshore numbers that are pretty deep say 120 feet plus. Black snapper are present and accounted for on the wrecks and reefs, and can help you to fill the box, especially on those non Red snapper days. Amberjack have almost become a nuisance on the bridge spans, but they can definitely be a nice addition to the box. Trigger fish, Beeliners and Seabass have been showing up in numbers and they love a chunk of squid. Closer inshore some reports of Flounder showing up so don't forget to fish the outer edges of your favorite inshore spot. Even though we are staring down a fall back for daylight savings time, there are still a lot of King mackerel being caught! Not your usual November target.

ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
More and more Flounder getting caught, their fall migration is in motion. Speckled trout and Redfish are being sight fished in the flats early in the morning and were hitting everything from topwater plugs to live baits. Have not yet seen the fall run start for Reds, but it should not be long. Please don't forget these fall runs are when these fish spawn so handle them accordingly. A true sportsman knows how to release them quickly and with as little injury as possible. The oversize Reds can produce millions of eggs so they are the suppliers of our future "epic fishing trips". Some very big late season Spanish mackerel to be found. They will of course hit a Gotcha plug or spoon as well as live bait. Either use heavy mono (50 lb.) or wire to prevent getting bit off.

PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
There have been some very good King mackerel catches lately and the pier tournaments have been a lot of fun. Flounder, Spanish and Pompano have graced some of the lucky angler's hooks. Plenty of wind to stir up the action in the past week. Surf fishers have had some nice Flounder and Pompano to show for their efforts. They are taking advantage of the fact that there are less swimmers and jet skis scaring off fish. Plus cooler water brings with it Flounder and Pompano. Grab a sand spike and go claim your spot, the beach is public don't let anyone tell you different.

DESTIN
Fishing is still great as we enter November. Remember that we still have red snapper for the first 3 weekends of November on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Bottom fishing will be good for Triggers, Mingos, Red Snapper, Grouper and Amberjack well into the end of the month. Kings are definitely still biting on most inshore reefs. In the bay, plenty of Trout on the east end, Reds, Sheephead and Black Drum around the jetties, Destin Bridge and Mid Bay Bridge. White Trout are around the Shilimar and Cinco Bayou Bridges along with Flounder in the harbor. On the pier, a few Kings, Spanish, Pompano and Reds are still biting. In the surf, Pompano and Whiting and a few really big Reds will be caught all month. On the jetties, expect Reds, Blues, Sheephead and maybe a occasional Pompano.

Half Hitch Tackle
850-234-2621 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              850-234-2621      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
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.