Friday, December 03, 2010

Panhandle Fishing Report 12-1-2010


Report for 11/30/2010

Salt Water


PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE AND INSHORE

Bottom fishing remains steady this week for Triggerfish, Mangroves, Red Snapper, Grouper and Amberjack. Remember! Red snapper season closes for 2010 at 12:01 am local time on November 22nd. Lastly there are still plenty of King mackerel haunting our inshore reefs and wrecks. Both trolled lures and live bait have put them in the box.

Mexico beach anglers are reporting white trout catches around the pier and canal jetties. White trout aren’t the only biting in that area, several King and Spanish mackerel were caught from the pier and many flounder in the Mexico Beach canal. While flounder are actively biting throughout St. Joseph's Bay the hot spot remains beneath the George Tapper Bridge. In the surf from Mexico Beach to Cape San Blas anglers are enjoying Pompano, Whiting and occasional big Redfish.



PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE

There have been some brawny Black snapper caught this past week out on your larger wrecks using butter flied Northern mackerel and grunts. Grouper were caught as well using the same method. Some nice King mackerel are still being trolled up and large Spanish are still tearing up spoons and Gotchas. Follow the birds they will let you know where the feeding frenzy is going on. If you just want to stretch your string, there are plenty of Amberjack in close, even by the whistle buoy. Most if not all of them are too small to keep but they will entertain your crew if nothing else. If you want keepers all you have to do is go out further to one of the stages or bridge spans. Deepwater jigs work real well, or if you prefer they will readily eat Blue runners or other large live bait. Fish them up in the water column (1/3 to ½ of your overall depth), bring along some chum to get their interest even if you are jigging, sometimes it takes a little something to turn them on. Don’t forget to try for Flounder on your closer in wrecks and live bottom, there have been lots of flatties stacking up in 80 feet or less.



ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM

Trout and Redfish are hitting well at daybreak again. Artificial’s and hard baits are producing well. Time to try some of the canals and slews on incoming tides, they will be there looking for the bait that is moving towards warmer water. Drag a live bait or a grub along a nice drop off and you may find Flounder laying in ambush mode. Be sure to have some heavier mono (or even better fluorocarbon) to use if needed to prevent getting bit off by the Spanish mackerel that are still around.



PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER

Spanish mackerel are almost a pest at the piers and the beach. I say this for those anglers that are trying for Pompano and Flounder. A lot of jigs and grubs have been lost in the attempt. Bring along some wire or heavy mono / fluorocarbon to do battle with them. Some Pompano and Flounder have “walked” off the pier and over the beach walks this past week. The bite has been best either early or late. Some nice King mackerel catches reported off the piers during the day and Redfish have been feeding at night around the pier pilings. There are still some Whiting around hitting everything from squid and dead shrimp to Gulp!, but they are not as thick as they were the past couple of weeks.

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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