Report for 10/02/2008
Salt Water
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.
Below Norman and Faith Parr with a nice catch of Red Snapper before season closes on November 1st.
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
The Destin Fishing rodeo is off to a terrific start. Last year we did not have the first fish weighed in until almost 11am. Scales officially open at 10am each day, this year we had a boat tied up at the weigh dock at 7:30am waiting on the scales to open at 10am. Several other boats showed up to be the first to weigh-in before the scales officially opened.
The weather on the 1st was absolutely beautiful, the sun was out, seas were calm fishing was great. Last year we had 64 entries on day one and this year was a record day with 111 entries. As of the end of day 2 we have had an entry in almost every species. We have had a 51lb grouper, 37lb king, 49lb Wahoo, a sailfish tagged and released and a spadefish caught by a jr angler right off the dock.
Below are pictures with the 51lb Grouper and a young angler with a Spanish Mackerel catch.
On the pier they weighed a good sized king and a 3.3lb trout on Thursday. Of the few open spots I can think of are pompano and yellowfin tuna.
You need to come out to the dock behind AJ’s restaurant and watch the weigh-in one day. Plan on staying and enjoying the festive atmosphere all afternoon, scales are open 10am to 7pm and the best time being 4pm till 7pm each day.
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