Half Hitch Tackle Fishing Report 10-12-07

Report for 10/12/2007

Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE

The red snapper bite is full on now around the wrecks and reefs. Grouper bite is still out there in deeper water at 150’ plus. The king mackerel are hitting flat lines and trolling Mann’s Stretch 25’s and 30’s. Big Spanish mackerel and bluefish schools are along the shoreline, at the buoy line and around the Air Force tower. Throw Gotcha lures or troll Clark spoons
ST JOSEPH BAY

With the red tide beginning to show up in St. Joe bay, searching for clear water is key to catching fish. Alternatively, you can head east towards Indian Pass or Apalachicola where the tide has not arrived yet. The trout are hitting live shrimp, Gulp, DOAs and a variety of plugs and the morning hours are still the best time. Gold spoons rule for the redfish. Several anglers caught slot redfish along the grass flats on city beach this week on spoons and live LY’s. The LY’s are right along the inside edges of the grassflats. Big bluefish and Spanish mackerel are working along the buoy line and just off the beach.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS

Red Tide is still affecting the local waters. The areas of red tide are spotty and have been reported out to 20 miles and are heavy in Grand Lagoon and St. Andrews Bay. Good fishing can still be had offshore and in West, East and North bays. If using live bait, be sure to turn off your livewell system when running through areas of red tide or your bait is sure to die. Several Spanish Mackeral and Bonita are being caught from just outside the pass to the weather bouy. Look for birds working bait schools and troll dusters tipped with cigar minnows or spoons for good action. The King Mackeral bite is still slow. Better reports are coming from hard bottom areas well offshore. Troll Dusters and free-line live or dead bait for the most action. Try a Stretch 25 or large Drone Spoon with 4-6 oz.s of lead for bigger kings. The Wahoo bite is still good and they are being found in greatest numbers far offshore (50 miles) around the Squiggles and Nipple. High speed trollers like the Panhandler and Yo Zuri Bonita in back and purple colors are working best. Also, try slow trolling rigged ballyhoo or live hard tails. Mahi Mahi are spread out. Lots of chicken dolphin are being caught around many of the offshore wrecks and bigger dolphin are being caught from 25 miles out. Chicken Dolphin can be caught using small hair jigs tipped with shrimp or gulp. The Grouper bite is still good over hard bottom areas. Live bait, whole boston mackerel and jigs(Shimano Butterfly or Williamson) are working well. Jigs with a glow color to them are a sure bet. Amberjack are on many of the inshore wrecks and reefs in good numbers. Try the Bridge Spans for lots of action. The larger fish will be well offshore over hard bottom. Live cigar minnows or pinfish will entice the larger fish, while jigs (Williamson Jig or AJ Jig) will trigger the most bites. Snapper action is still very good. Squid, cigar minnows and chunks of northern mackerel are working well. The bag limit for state waters remains four snapper per person and 16” length, however in federal waters only two snapper per person and 16” length. Federal waters start basically nine miles from land, and is noted on your maps as the Natural resources boundary. Ladyfish, Bluefish and Bar Jacks are everywhere up and down the beaches right now. Throw Pompano Jigs, Gotcha’s and Spoons on light tackle for a lot of fun.
ST ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM

Spanish Mackeral are being caught in great numbers off the jetties. Bubble Rigs seem to be the lure of choice, but spoons and gotchas will also work. Flounder are starting to move and are still being caught on drop-offs in the bays and on the edges of grass flats. Try the deep channel leading into the Spanish Shante in St. Andrews Bay. Use a Carolina rig with live bull minnows for the best results. For artificial bait fishermen, use an 1/8 oz. jig with Gulp Curl Tail Minnows in a variety of colors. The Trout bite is very good and with the cooler weather have been biting throughout the day. Target spotty bottom grass flats in the 1-3 foot range. Big trout can be caught early in the day on topwater plugs close to the shoreline. When the sun gets up, throw a Rebel Jointed Minnow in Gold or Silver. Good reports are coming from Grand Lagoon. Redfish are biting good in West and East Bays. Gulp, Gold Spoons, Live Shrimp, LY’s, Bull Minnows and Cut Bait are working well. Late in the day, when the tide is rolling out, the reds are coming to the surface. Throw a topwater plug and hold on!
DAN RUSSEL PIER

Spanish mackerel and a few Kings are being caught every day at the pier right now. Sharks, Pompano, Whiting, Blue Fish, and Lady Fish are also being caught. Call 850-233-5080 for the latest pier fishing information.
Fresh Water
The largemouth is at the tributaries and hitting spinner baits regularly. For the big boys, fish big 10-12” worms in dark colors around the tree trunks.
Fishing Report prepared by Half Hitch Tackle Staff.

Half Hitch Tackle

850-234-2621

2206 Thomas Dr

Panama City, Fl 32408

www.halfhitch.com/
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.