Half Hitch Tackle Fishing Report 10-4-07

Report for 10/04/2007

Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE

Wrecks and reefs within 10 miles are still holding nice fish. No change in the bait, grouper continue to hit on live pinfish and frozen cigar minnows rigged Carolina style. To catch the big snappers, start a chum line and use light tackle with a circle hook and fluorocarbon leaders buried in a chunk of bait and just free line your bait down with the chum. Be sure to have a flat line out, while you are bottom fishing for a chance at kings. The Spanish mackerel and King mackerel bite is unsteady, but should be improving soon with cooler weather. Find the baitfish and you find the kings. Start your search along the buoys 5/6 and head out from there to above the car bodies and over Virginia reef. Live hard tails, slow trolling dusters/widgets with cigar minnows is still the bait of choice. Trolling Christmas tree rigs or drifting cigar minnows will work on the Spanish.
ST JOSEPH BAY

The fall run of pompano should be showing up soon. Head to the tip of the St Joseph peninsula and work your way to Eagle harbor fishing red/pink/ chartreuse ½ oz pompano jigs. The trout are still hitting well and the red fishing has been strong. Flounder are still around on the sand flats inside the tip of the St Joseph peninsula, right outside the entrance to the Gulf canal on the outgoing tide, or just inside the cut on crooked island. Use live bull minnows, LY’s, or shrimp all rigged Carolina style with ½ ounce leads and a 1/0 circle hook on fluorocarbon leader. Redfish are hitting live baits on the bottom along the drop offs with a 1/0 Owner circle hook and 1/2 ounce weight rigged Carolina style. Entrance to the canal has produced well this past week. Topwater Mirrolures in the morning are producing both trout and redfish. As are Gulp shrimp imitations in the “nuclear chicken” color. The larger fish are holding in deep holes, and along the drop offs. The grass flats between Eagle Harbor and the tip of the peninsula is a popular spot with the flats south of Presnell’s is also producing.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS

Red Tide has invaded the local beaches. The areas of red tide are spotty and have been reported out to 2 or 3 miles and a little bit in the 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 Mackerel and Bonita are being caught from just outside the pass to the weather buoy. Look for birds working bait schools and troll dusters tipped with cigar minnows or spoons for good action. The King Mackerel 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 ounces 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 black 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 Mackerel 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 top water 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 all over the jetties right now and schools are being seen around the mouth of Grand Lagoon. 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 top water 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
APALACHICOLA /WHITE CITY

Better reports this week with good 2-3 lb largemouth bass caught in the brother’s river. Your best bet is still to fish buzz baits along the weed lines early in the morning. Switch to jerk baits and spinner baits in the afternoon and back to the buzzes in the evening. Fishing the heavy cover around the tributaries with the brown/white 7.5” Culprit worm is also working very well. Bluegill bite is good, fish at first light along the shore in 2-3ft of water utilizing wigglers and crickets just off the bottom.
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.

Half Hitch Tackle
850-234-2621
2206 Thomas Dr
Panama City, Fl 32408
www.halfhitch.com/
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.