Report for 10/24/2008
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
The red snapper bite continues to be excellent around many of our inshore wrecks and reefs. Again, this week reports put the grouper in 150’ of water. We expect some high seas this weekend due to another weather front moving through, so plan your trips carefully. King mackerel catches are sparse; however, flat lining baits over or near structure is accounting for most catches. If you are looking for a fight, amberjack are abundant right now. Look for larger wreck or reef structures like the Air force tower and send down larger live baits for larger AJs. Big Spanish mackerel and bluefish schools are along the shorelines and reports say Crooked Island Sound is a hotspot with large schools of finger mullet in the area. Christmas tree rigs trolled and gotcha plugs are accounting for many catches this week.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Trout are beginning to move into deeper pockets of water and reports of trout in the intercoastal waterway are increasing due to cooler water temperatures. Several trout caught inside the St Joe Marina this week on live shrimp. The redfish made a healthy showing throughout the bay this week. Many anglers reported fun filled hours of catch and release fishing. The flats along Town Beach is a good spot for redfish and trout and are easily accessible to wade fishermen. The flounder bite continues but is tapering off with each succeeding cold front that passes through.
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.
King mackerel are still biting well near shore. Trolling and free-lining live baits are both working well. The Grouper bite is still good. 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.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Pictures sent in by Donna Fries
Half Hitch has always been so much help to HK and I, and just want to say thank you! HK says thanks also! We did well yesterday and here are some pictures to show you! 4 Nice AJ's - 2 were 34-36" each and 2 just a little smaller, some nice Snappers, a trigger and a grouper! We KNOW where to go to get OUR FISHING Supplies! --- Donna Fries
Pompano are starting to be caught in greater numbers along the beaches. A 2-hook rig or Pompano jig will catch these fish. Mangrove Snappers are all over the jetties. Live shrimp fished on the bottom is the best bet. 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 and around the bouys with live 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.
DESTIN
Fishing has been fantastic. We are entering the last 10 days of the Destin Fishing Rodeo and it will likely be an all time record year for the number of fish entered. Last year we had 790 fish entered and in 1999 we had 909 fish entries and with 10 days to go this year we already have 827 fish entered.
Tuesday the 21st was highlighted by a 104lb Yellowfin tuna. It was also the first day that Miss Destin (Leah Stewart) got to go fishing this year during the rodeo and she had a nice 15lb Red snapper. One of the kayak fisherman also landed a 12lb King mackerel yesterday.
Overall the King fishing has been steady. The Redfish near the Destin Bridge and pass have been on fire. They have had very nice catches of Red snapper with a 26lb fish leading that division. Grouper have been very good along with Amberjack.
Offshore the Dolphin, Tuna and Wahoo are still on the attack. We had a Dolphin come in on Sunday just 3lb shy of a Rodeo record, the fish weighed in at 45lbs. that was a great fish for October.
To see a complete list of the current standings for the Destin Fishing Rodeo go to www.destinfishingrodeo.org.
NAVARRE
SURF
The Pompano are all along the beaches. There have been some reports of a few good fish being caught. Best baits remain live or frozen sand fleas and live and frozen shrimp. Pompano jigs will catch them too. As the water continues to cool, the Pompano bite will increase. There are a lot of Ladyfish (skipjack), Spanish mackerel and Bluefish to be caught as well. Bright spoons, Gotcha plugs, Straw Rigs, Top Water and regular plugs will catch them. Live and frozen Shrimp will take them too. Redfish have showed up on the beach as well. Some will be slot size fish but for the most part they will be over the slot. Live, frozen and cut baits, especially cut mullet will catch them. There have been reports of the occasional Flounder being caught, some will be nice fish over five pounds. Best baits are Tiger, Bull minnows and live finger Mullet.
SOUND AND BAYS
Trout remain on the grass flats in three to five feet of water. If you have no luck there try to go deeper, say five to nine feet. You can catch your biggest Trout early and late in the day on top water and live baits. Live Shrimp, Tiger Minnows, Pinfish, Menhaden and Mullet all catch Trout. Now is a good time of year to throw the top water baits early in the morning for the bigger Trout. Redfish can be caught on the same live baits and artificial lures. Work all visible and underwater structures to increase your chances at hooking up with a red. Skipjack, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and Flounder can all be caught in the bay this time of year. The Flounder fishing should start to pick up with the gradually cooling water. Finger Mullet, Bull Minnows and Tiger Minnows are hard to beat. Mangrove Snapper on are the bridge pilings, tie on a 12” piece of 10# to12# fluorocarbon leader, a #1 hook, ½oz sinker and a live shrimp. This rig will take Sheepshead as well. The upper part of east Bay has been good for Redfish and Trout. Try fishing around the power lines and the surrounding oyster bars. King mackerel will be in the bays from now until the water gets to cold. Try slow trolling live baits in the pass, along the three mile bridge and in front of the Palafox Pier should prove productive. Don’t overlook trolling a big Rapala bait for these fish as well. You can also anchor and chum for them with Menhaden Oil or cut up Menhaden. Put your live bait under a balloon and wait for Mr. King to come along.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
There have been some good reports of King Mackerel and Spanish mackerel caught right off the beach and outside Pensacola Pass in the last few weeks. Live Cigar Minnows and Blue Runners (hard tails) are the bait of choice. If there are large schools of bait around, the King and Spanish mackerel are not far away. The big Redfish are being caught in the pass. Jigs, cut bait and live bait all take these fish. You may encounter a slot Red while fishing, but be sure to put the big ones back. This is a good time of year to look for the big schools of Redfish to be on top just outside and within one or two miles of the pass. Try looking for birds working the schools. Throw top water baits for some great action or a large spoon or jig. For the fly rod enthusiasts this is prime time. Any pattern that imitates a large baitfish will serve you well. Live baits or jigs will catch them to.
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 a Butterfly jig or fishing with live Hardtails. Black Snapper have been on all the reefs this year. Use live shrimp and live Tiger Minnows. However, they will eat the same baits as Red Snapper. I have had some good reports of Yellowfin Tuna being caught around the offshore oil platforms. The Destin rodeo has weighed in two fish over 100 lbs so far. Most anglers are trolling, jigging or chumming. Look for weed lines and floating debris if you are interested in catching some Mahi Mahi, Wahoo and other species. I had a report today of a couple of Wahoo in the 30lb and 50 lb range being caught yesterday.
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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