Report for 06/13/2008
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Anglers report lots of baitfish throughout our coastal waters and report nice catches of King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and Dolphin. Further offshore, several anglers picked up Wahoo and larger dolphin. As usual trolling is accounting for the largest bag limits but live lining hard tails is accounting for the largest sized fish. The best Grouper reports put them at 180’ of water along with the endangered red snapper. Overall, all reef species are biting well and anglers report good days on the water. Tripletails are around in good numbers around the crab buoys out in the Indian and West Passes. Always have a live shrimp ready just incase a tripletail makes and appearance. There were several cobia catches this week over wrecks and around the buoy line. Report s say they are small but larger ones have made their presence known. I would suggest keeping that cobia rod ready for a few more days.
ST JOSEPH BAY
The head of the bay remains the place to go again this week as reports of redfish and trout continue to come in. Work the area south of Blacks Island to the area around Pigs Island. Use free lined LY’s/shrimp or a live bait under a Cajun thunder and always pay special attention to the deeper holes as the day warms up. For the best action, try top water early in the morning for redfish. For those of you who like to sleep in, you are not out of luck. Reports say there is some excellent trout fishing in that last couple of hours before sunset.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
Chicken Dolphin are all over the place offshore. Tons of weed lines and clumps are present from 3 miles out. Small jigs, spoons and cut bait work well.
King mackerel are being caught more frequently now. Several are being caught around the Whistle Buoy with some better fish taken over the hard bottom to the west. Most of the fish are being caught free-lining live baits.
The Red Snapper bite is still going strong with fish being found in all depths of water. Best baits include chunked cigar minnows, squid, live shrimp and small pinfish.
Grouper are being caught over hard bottom areas from 7 – 25 miles out with larger fish being caught from 35-45 miles off. Live bait and butterflied Spanish mackerel are the best bet.
Amberjack remain plentiful over several of the Bridge Spans with larger fish being caught farther offshore. Live bait, Williamson Jigs, and Butterfly Jigs will bring savage strikes!
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Trout are feeding on the flats now. Bayous with nice grass points are producing well and target the deeper grass flats with live shrimp under a popping cork for best results.
Redfish are being caught all over the bay systems. Throw a live Shrimp on a light lead head or weightless for best results. On a high tide, the redfish will be laying up in the flooded Spartina Grass. Weedless jerk baits and gold spoons will take these fish out of the grass.
Morry, Julie and Jordan from Chattanooga, TN caught these nice Spanish Mackerel with Capt. Dan on Perfect Cast Charters, 850-227-5149.
DESTIN
If you are in town make sure to make a trip to the Okaloosa pier even if you have a boat. Fishing has been great this week! Many mornings and some afternoons there have been some good King runs. Through out the day they are getting Hardtails and Spanish. But more than anything head out around 6pm and have dinner at Anglers restaurant at the pier and then enjoy a sunset walk on the pier. At dusk they are having good runs of Blues and Hardtails and the atmosphere is just electric. There are just big groups of people having a good time catching fish, having a cocktail and just enjoying the paradise we have here.
In the bay a few Trout are biting very early and at dusk. During the day expect to find a few Reds in deep holes and some Black Snapper around the bridges.
Inshore trolling is producing great King catches and a few Bonito. The Kings are close in early in the day and move offshore once it heats up.
There is a good amount of Sargasso weed showing up just offshore and lots of Chicken dolphin. Wahoo action is good near the edge and rock cliffs and out to the nipple. Some Marlin have started showing up near the nipple and spur and some very nice Swordfish near the spur.
Bottom bumping is producing very nice catches of Red, Lane and Mingo snapper and a few very good sized Black snapper in water 80-150 foot deep. Grouper and Amberjack are in deeper water where it is a little cooler.
We will be having a big sale over the 4th of July weekend. Have a great Fathers day weekend and make sure to enjoy your time here in Paradise!!
Fresh Water
Fly-fishing is the ticket for Bream. Most reports have them at Howard’s creek and Bear Man Creek. However, Bream can be caught nearly anywhere. Largemouth reports have them feeding on the shad. There were lots of nice one to two and half-pound Bass caught this week. The Channel Catfish bite is strong over drop offs and similar structure. The Apalachicola River is ripe with Flat Head Catfish and they are hitting small Bream and Stump Knockers.
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.
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