Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Bottom fishing continues to be good however challenging, as you may have to try several locations before finding fish. When you find them, they are hitting everything you drop down to them. Live baits are getting easier to catch, but dropping down frozen baits like cigar minnows will work almost as well, or try the new bottom jigs from Shimano. The “Lucanus” jig is steadily increasing in popularity. The king mackerel bite is still strong with many fish seen skyrocketing after baits. All you have to do is troll dusters or ballyhoo and the fish will come to you. Start your trolling on the buoy line and work your way out to deeper water until you find the bite. Trolling offshore is picking up with some nice dolphin picked up 50 miles out trolling ballyhoo with a skirt.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Scallop reports are good with many people getting their limit in only a few hours. Try the grass flats around eagle harbor and of course, Blacks Island. The trout report is good with the majority of fish caught at first light and late afternoon. The redfish are still with us and like the trout, target them the first few hours after sun up. If artificial baits are your favorite use a Capt Mikes spoon, or Calcutta flash foil bait. The Spanish mackerel and many bluefish caught this week, they can be caught on live bait rigs or using a double speck rig or a gotcha plug for casting.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
Snapper season closes in Federal waters August the 4th. The State Snapper season remains open within 9 miles from shore until November 1st.
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.
Below is Shannon Barker with a nice Redfish caught on Perfect Cast Charters, 850-227-5149
Bluefish, Spanish and Ladyfish are plentiful on all of the major points around St. Andrews Bay, the Middle Grounds, and Camel Back Shoals.
DESTIN
Plenty of red snapper are coming off the live bottom and natural rock bottom from 6-15 miles out. Some have reported nice red grouper catches near the funnels and a few gags near the big rocks on the edges.
Offshore we had a good bite of Wahoo this week as a nice line formed about 55 miles out but has pushed back to 80 or so the last couple days. We also had some nice reports of tuna at the rigs.
On the pier the ladyfish and hardtails make the bulk of the catches. They did get a couple tarpon and 2 kings on Thursday.
In the surf the seaweed is getting better and the jellyfish are thinning out but it is still bad in some spots. They have managed a few ladyfish, a occasional red and some sharks. One customer caught an 8 foot nurse shark last weekend behind there condo early one morning.
In the bay the reds are on the flats early and late with the trout. During the day they move to the bridges where you will also find some nice black snapper. Live shrimp and ly’s are the best baits right now.
NAVARRE
SURF Fishing for Pompano has slowed since last month. There have been some reports of an occasional fish caught. Best baits remain live or frozen sand fleas and live and frozen shrimp. There are a lot of Ladyfish (skipjack), Spanish mackerel and Bluefish to be caught. Bright spoons, Gotcha plugs and Straw Rigs will catch them. Live and frozen Shrimp will take them too.
SOUND AND BAYS
Trout remain on the grass flats in three to five feet of water. You can catch your biggest Trout early and late in the day on top water baits and on live baits. Live Shrimp, Tiger Minnows, Pinfish, Menhaden and Mullet all catch Trout. A host of artificial lures will catch them as well. Redfish can be caught on the same live baits and artificial lures. Skipjack, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel and Flounder can all be caught in the bay this time of year.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
There have been some good reports of King Mackerel and Spanish mackerel caught right off the beach in the last few weeks. Live Cigar Minnows and Blue Runners (hard tails) are the bait of choice. Jack Crevalle has also been caught while fishing for King and Spanish mackerel. Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) can be caught on occasion in the same area when conditions are right. Rapala and Mann’s Stretch lures also account for a lot of fish.
OFFSHORE – GULF
The bottom fishing for Snapper and Grouper remains very good. Live bait and frozen bait will work on both. Don’t be surprised if an Amberjack shows up, especially if you are jigging with Butterfly jigs. Black Snapper (Mangrove) have been on all the reefs this year. Use the same baits as fishing for the Red Snapper. I have had some good reports of Yellowfin Tuna being caught around the offshore oil platforms. Look for weedlines and other debris if you are interested in catching some Mahi Mahi.
Fresh Water
The water is super 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 top water 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.
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