Report for 07/31/2009 Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
The snapper bite continues to be good on near and offshore structure, in fact, its so good that complaints of not being able to catch grouper for the staggering number of snapper taking the bait before it reaches bottom is increasing. The up side to this is the many reports of very large red snapper. King Mackerel fishing is excellent, near structure. Trolling is accounting for the majority of catches, but those anglers free lining live baits are catching some exceptional kings. A smattering of Dolphin and Wahoo reports this week from about twenty miles out. Local fishing guru Tom Adams caught what we believe may be a record Remora. Unassisted Tom struggled with this behemoth for nearly an hour. Estimates put this fish in the five to ten pound category. Congratulations, Tom. (Smile)
ST JOSEPH BAY
The Trout and Redfish bite continues this week. Fishing early and late will be your best bet as scallop hunters are having good luck throughout the bay. The hot spots for both scallops and trout are around Black’s island and in the channel by Pigs Bayou. Popping corks rigged with an artificial shrimp and LYs have accounted for the vast majority of trout and redfish catches. A quality mask and snorkel have accounted for the scallops.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
The Red Snapper bite has remained constant over the wrecks and hard bottom areas. Larger snapper are being found further out. Wahoo are being caught from 20-40 miles out. Hi speed trollers, like the Yo Zuri Bonita, are a sure bet. King mackerel are being caught in great numbers. They are being caught steadily around the Whistle and Weather buoys trolling and free-lining cigar minnows. The Grouper bite has slowed inshore, but good reports are coming from 20 miles out. Use large live baits. Lots of AJ’s are still being caught around the 100 foot mark over bridge spans and large wrecks. Big hard tails are the best bet for keeper AJ’s.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Tarpon are on the beaches in better numbers now. Be stealthy, throw live baits, and keep your fingers crossed for a hook up! Ladyfish, Bluefish, and Spanish mackerel are biting good at the jetties on spoons and Gotcha Plugs. Mangrove Snappers are still being caught off the rocks with live shrimp. Redfish have been found on the flats in East and West Bays; while Bull Reds are still being caught with live shrimp and pinfish around the jetties. Trout are being caught on the flats with topwater lures early and live shrimp under a cork later.
Marian Maszczak with a nice Tarpon caught out of Indian Pass with Capt. Dan on Perfect Cast Charters.
DESTIN
Fishing is red hot at the moment. On the Okaloosa pier they are getting the tarpon especially late in the day, there are also some good runs of kings in the afternoon. Snapper season is open until august 15th and the fishing is still very good. The boats are getting the kings very good just like the pier is. Amber jack and grouper are also good near the edge and rock cliffs. On the offshore scene the Wahoo and Dolphin have been better and there is a nice stretch of pretty water that stretches from the Ozark over to the nipple. In the surf there are good numbers of ladyfish and hardtails and a few sharks at night. In the bay, trout and reds are biting at first light and then very late just before dark.
NAVARRE
SURF
July has arrived and with it the heat has come. With light winds in the morning there should be some fishing opportunities. We should continue to see good numbers of Jack Crevalle in the 5# to 20# range. The Jacks are hitting best on top water poppers and Rapala Skitterwalks. The Pompano bite has remained steady with most fish being landed on fresh dead shrimp and live sand fleas when you can find them. The Spanish Mackerel and Skipjack are all through the surf. Any bright shiny lure that is travelling very quickly will take their share. On calmer days Kayak fisherman can reach the King Mackerel just at the drop off in 20’ of water. There are also some Dolphin on the beach this time of year in the same areas. Look for the schools of threadfins and cigar minnows and troll with deep diving hard baits. Try trolling live baits around these baitfish schools as well.
SOUND AND BAYS
Nothing has changed much here. Anglers can expect to see great Trout fishing around the grass flats from Tiger Point to the grass flats just east of the bridge. Redfish and Flounder are also in the same waters with most of the fish caught on live shrimp under a popping cork. Also try using a 1/4oz jig tipped with a GULP! shrimp or jerk shad under the same popping cork. There have also been plenty of Trout and Redfish landed in East Bay from the Garcon Point bridge up to the power lines crossing the entrance to the East River. With the heat of July setting in, early morning and late afternoon forays will be the best times to fish. Don’t overlook the summertime night fishing around the lighted docks. There are some nice fish right in the light, but don’t overlook the darker edges of the light either. Live shrimp is a great bait to use if you can get it. If not, the Berkley GULP! baits do well fished with a split shot or under a small popping cork.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
King Mackerel are still the hot bite near shore and continue to bite strong in and around the passes and inshore reefs in 60 to 80 feet of water. Trolling or fly lining live cigar minnows when anchored up has been the top producer. Dolphin continue to show up in increasing numbers especially around anglers fishing for bottom species. Just remember to have a rod ready and rigged with a pitch bait when they do show up. The near shore reefs and wrecks are also producing good numbers of Amberjack, Grouper, Red Snapper, Black Snapper, Lane Snapper and Triggerfish. The Grouper are being caught on large pinfish, threadfins or hardtails with their tail clipped to make it easier for the grouper to catch them. The Snappers will nail a live cigar minnow fished on the very bottom.
OFFSHORE – GULF
Red Snapper has been the top predator on most reefs and wrecks this week and we should continue to see more of the same this month. They are hitting jigs, live bait and deep running hard baits trolled over shallow reefs and wrecks. Amberjack are almost on every wreck from 80’ on out with the largest fish being caught in deeper water of 100’ or more. Look for Grouper to remain on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Fish in the 10# to 15# range will hit pinfish, threadfins and hardtails. You will have to remove the tails from the Hardtails; otherwise they are next to impossible to get to the bottom on a light weight. Dolphin and Triple Tail can still be found on just about any floating structure. A jig tipped squid or shrimp will take the Triple Tail. A cut or live Cigar minnow or live Pinfish will get you your Dolphin. King mackerel are being caught daily around the mouth of the passes and buoy lines on cigar minnows slow trolled or free lined. If you can get out the blue water bite is still smoking hot. Yellow Fin, Black Fin and Wahoo are being caught around most of the deep water oil rigs. Poppers, jigs and slow trolled ballyhoo continue to be the go to baits. The bigger fish are coming off the bridled Bonito or large Blue Runners bump trolled around the rigs. . Some reports have the cleaner water holding on the edge, but blue water remains around 100 miles out.
Fresh Water
APALACHICOLA /WHITE CITY
The Shell cracker and Bluegill bite remains hot. Fishing in 3-4 ft. of water with a wiggler will fill your stringer. In the after noon, try the zoom brush hog in 6 to 8 foot of water for bass.
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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