Report for 07/18/2008
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Bottom fishing is outstanding! You may have to move to a few different spots to locate the fish and once you do, hold on! The Grouper bite starts at 20 miles and just gets better out to 40 miles. Live baits are great, but they are hitting everything from frozen cigars/LY to jigs. Natural bottom is the best, but wrecks are holding their own. The Snapper are there also and can be caught using 6 ft fluorocarbon leaders with your baits, or try the 4oz braid jigs for some action. The King Mackerel bite is great and caught easily trolling dusters or just flat lining cigar minnows.
ST JOSEPH BAY
I recommend targeting the Trout and Redfish at first light around the middle grounds with live bait or Mirrolure "Top Dog”. The late morning sun is warming the water quickly and the bite seems confined to the early morning hours. However, during that time the trout bite is strong with some nice ones caught at the middle grounds and in the head of the bay and along the peninsula between Pig Island and Eagle Harbor. Red fishing is also in full swing and using live LYs or finger mullet will bring them in at the outskirts of the grass flats.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
Believe it or not, several Cobia are being spotted and caught on the beaches and off shore! Most are being caught over structure within 10 miles from shore. Throw live bait to them and hold on!
Grouper and Snapper are being caught consistently over hard bottom areas from 18 miles out. The baits of choice are live Squirrel Fish, Cigar Minnows, and Hard Tails.
Wahoo are still biting from 20 miles and further offshore. Look for weed lines or large clumps. High speed trollers are working well, as well as Ballyhoo and large live baits.
Tarpon are running the beaches in schools. These fish are very wary and will spook easily. Get in front of the school or anchor and wait for the schools to come to you. Be very quiet and pitch live baits ahead of the lead fish.
King Mackerel are plentiful offshore and near shore. Trolling has picked up while most of the fish are being caught free-lining live baits.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Trout are all over deep grass beds in all of the bays. Live alewives will produce better sized fish, while grubs and top water plugs will yield the most strikes.
Redfish are spread out 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. One of our customers pictured below with a nice catch!
Bluefish, Spanish and Ladyfish are plentiful on all of the major points around St. Andrews Bay, the Middle Grounds, and Camel Back Shoals.
Fresh Water
APALACHICOLA /WHITE CITY
The water is high and the bass have moved in over grass beds. Fish wild shiners along the grass lines, or if you want to use an artificial, your best bet will be shallow running jerk baits and topwater along the shore.
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