Report for 09/26/2008
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Reports have the snappers at the 100’ depth and 120’ for the grouper. The King mackerel bite has slowed this week, however at the Air Force tower this week some reports of nice catches and reports from outside the car body area in 70’ of water. Drifting live and trolling dusters and cigar minnows are working. Spanish mackerel continue to be caught trolling Clark spoons and Mackerel trees, or drifting cigar minnows along the buoy line and the cape shoals area.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Redfish reports this week are coming in from all over the bay. Hit the flats from town beach on the east side and on the west side starting outside the fire tower all the way up to Pompano Point. Hit the flats early morning and late afternoon for the best bite. Topwater plugs, DOA shrimp, and gold spoons working well. The flounder bite picked up nicely this week with the water temperature dropping nearly 10 degrees. The main bite is in the channels off Blacks Island, but quite a few flounder are being taken in the gulf canal under the George Tapper Bridge and also farther up at the “T” with the intercostals waterway. Live bull-minnows fished on a Carolina rig along the drop-offs are working the best. The best trout bite is on the west bank of St Joseph Bay. Hit the edges of the flats between Pigs Island and Eagle Harbor and between Eagle Harbor and Pompano Cove. Live LY’s or hard/soft jerk baits for artificial are working. Pompano are starting to show up in the bay at along the surf. Use pink pompano jigs tipped with shrimp.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
Remember Red snapper season is open until November 1st in state waters. For all you out-of-towners, LaQuinta Inn on Thomas Drive (7115 Coastal Palms Blvd.) is offering a room with double beds and breakfast for $79 + tax. This rate will be available for the month of October at this location only. All you have to do is contact LaQuinta Inn directly at (850) 234-3133 and mention you are with Half Hitch Tackle to reserve your room at a great rate.
The inshore Grouper bite has slowed slightly. Many are still being caught on structure within 9 miles. Check the hard bottom areas in the 100-120 feet range further offshore. Take some big live baits and get ready for action!
Big Spanish Mackerel are schooling all over inshore from 3 miles in. Free-lined live baits, spoons, and Speck Rigs are working well.
For fun and excitement on light tackle, give the huge schools of Bonita a try. They are all over up and down the beach within a mile or two. Small jigs, spoons, and live bait will take as many as you want.
The Red Snapper bite has remained very good. It is generally not hard to get a limit within state waters. Live cigar minnows, herring and even alewives are excellent baits. Red Snapper season is closed in Federal waters. The State Snapper season remains open within 9 miles from shore until November 1st.
King Mackerel are biting well offshore and near shore. Trolling has picked up while most of the fish are being caught free-lining live baits.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Redfish are schooling on the beaches right now and making their way into the jetties. Live baits, artificials or cut bait – they’ll hit anything!
Flounder are just now starting their fall migration. Try any of the deep points leading out of the bay with live bull minnows on a Carolina rig.
Trout are spread out over deep grass beds in all of the bays. Live alewives and shrimp will produce better sized fish, while grubs and topwater plugs will yield the most strikes.
Bluefish, Spanish and Ladyfish are plentiful on all of the major points around St. Andrews Bay, the Middle Grounds, and Camel Back Shoals.
DESTIN
Here we are September 25, 2008 and the Destin Fishing rodeo is now less than a week away. The weather and fishing is looking awesome. It appears we are going to actually get a fall season this year and it is bringing some fantastic fishing.
Offshore the White marlin bite is very good from the nipple, across the flats and out to the 131 hole and the spur. Also some good reports on Blackfin tuna on the edge and around the offshore shrimpers.
In the bay area the redfish around the jetties, Destin Bridge, Midbay Bridge and the Santa Rosa sound have been very good. The flounder are showing up in the harbor in great numbers early this year. I believe this is due to the cooler temps we are getting at night.
In the surf the Pompano are back in the game and the Spanish, blues and ladyfish are cruising good chasing schools of bait.
On the pier they are getting good runs of Spanish everyday and the kings are good. The kings are being caught in numbers ranging from 5 to 10 a day with a few days seeing numbers in the 20’s. Pompano and reds are also good at the pier most days.
Remember the Destin Fishing Rodeo is the entire month of October. It has awards for Private Boats, Charter Boats, Party Boats, Pier Bridge and Surf. Bring us a fish to the weigh station at AJ’s Restaurant and let us make you famous! Weigh-in’s are daily from 10am to 7pm, prime time is from 4pm to 6:30pm. There is a dock party every night.
Saturday is the kickoff party at AJ’s. There will be food, boat wagon parade, kid rides, games and a street dance.
Don’t forget the Seafood Festival is at the docks by the Emerald Grand this year, October 3-4-5. They will have great food, music and you can watch them weigh in fish.
Fresh Water
Sorry, no freshwater report this week.
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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