Salt Water
PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
The flounder caught this week came mostly from under the George C. Tapper Bridge and off the oil docks at PSJ marina. Bull minnows Carolina rigged with a size 1 circle hook using fluorocarbon leader material and a 1 oz or smaller egg weight is the bait of choice. The Spanish Mackerel caught off the oil dock wall is much improved this week and trolling off the tip of Cape San Blas peninsula will be productive too. Pompano are still with us and the hot spots are still the stump hole at Cape San Blas and along the Beach of St Joseph Park and a few at east beach and Mexico Beach. Most fish are being caught using shrimp on a double hook pompano rig. The Trout fishing has picked up with some nice 20” plus fish being caught in 4-6’ water outside the grass flats. A few hot spots are around Black’s island and in the channel by Pigs bayou. Some Redfish schools are working the flats between Eagle harbor and the tip of the cape.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
There were several reports of Mahi-Mahi sightings and catches as close in as the Whistle buoy. Further out, anglers have gotten into a few Wahoo as well as the some Mahi high speed trolling, and a lot of King Mackerel on down riggers or flat line. Amberjack and Trigger fish are hanging out over the bridge spans and taller wrecks. Jigs work great on the jacks, and a 4/0 Mustad or Owner circle hook baited with squid will catch the Triggers. Red Grouper and Black Snapper catches over hard bottom have been dependable, and live bait has been easy to find. Inside nine miles Gag Grouper were biting pretty good as well. We finally have had a little relief from the winds that have kept a lot of us from getting out offshore and it's about time!
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Lots of Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel, and Bluefish around and pretty easy to find, troll along the edges of the shipping channels with a spec rig, mackerel tree or clark spoon. Flounder are getting caught all over the bay on soft plastics and live bait. They seem to be recovering from their low numbers of the past few years. Redfish are feeding up in the shallow flats at dawn and dusk, a live shrimp or other live bait will definitely get their interest but a spinner bait or soft plastic can work as well. In the deeper channels like the pass and around the bridges drifting a live pinfish or bull minnow will likely get you a Bull Red or Black Drum. Speckled Trout feeding at daybreak just like the Reds and will hit the same baits. Good reports up near the Intra-coastal waterway in West bay. If you have the opportunity to fish a lit up dock at night, you will likely find bigger Trout than during the day (and no sunburn to boot !).
PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
The King Mackerel bite slowed a little this week but they are still around, early mornings are best and live bait is what works. Ladyfish are there to entertain you while you wait and Spanish Mackerel are intermingled with them. Pompano and Whiting are getting caught about halfway down the piers and in the surf when you can get past the Ladys and Spanish. Anglers are still seeing Tarpon around and they can be a ball when hooked. They will put on a show launching themselves out of the water trying to shake your hook and they are very good at it. A wide gap SSW owner circle hook does a pretty good job of catching them around their jaw bone but remember you have to cut the line to release them as it is not legal to handle them unless you hold a Tarpon permit. Get a good picture of them while still hooked in the water and you will have all the bragging rights you need!
Blackfin Tuna caught by Lee Jones
DESTIN
PIER AND SURF
The pier has been quiet this week, a few Kings in the afternoon, a few Spanish throughout the day, and a few Ladyfish and Hardtails. In the surf the Pompano bite has been quite good fishing with frozen sand fleas.
BAY
Reds, Spanish, and Hardtails jave been caught at the jetties. The Spanish on gotcha lures, Reds on shrimp (live), and Hardtails on Sabiki rigs. In the bay, plenty of Reds around the Coast Guard Station and the Destin Bridge, Trout are on most tidal flats and biting on live shrimp and gulps.
GULF TROLLING
Kings are biting very good on Pink Yozuri lures and live cigar minnows. In the early morning, they are near the Sea Buoy and later in the day the broken bottom and southeast rocks are the best. Offshore in the 25 to 40 mile range, there are some nice Wahoo and small Dolphin.
GULF BOTTOM FISHING
Amberjack and Grouper are biting in wrecks that are in water 150 to 350 feet deep. Triggers and Mingo are biting in the 18’s and the Nickey grounds. Many of the charter boats are reporting more Trigger fish right now than in the last 20 years.
NAVARRE
PIER
Fishing remains great on the pier. Although the Cobia bite has slowed, there are still some fish being caught. The King Mackerel bite has been going off for a better part of a month. There are still a lot of fish to be caught. Try the live cigar minnow, hard tail, or large spoon for best results. The Spanish Mackerel bite has slowed a little, but there are days when the fishing is great! Try the Gotcha Plugs and Bubble Rigs for the best results, although small live baits work well too. The Pompano can still be caught with sand fleas, fresh dead shrimp, and jigs.
SURF
The Cobia fishing has slowed, but there are still some fish around. The good thing is there are plenty of King and Spanish mackerel to keep us busy. The Tarpon have showed up early to. Pompano, Redfish, Bluefish and Skipjack (ladyfish) are showing up in increasing numbers as the water continues to clear. This week should see an increase in landing if the wind stays mild. The Pompano and Redfish are hitting best on live sand fleas and fresh shrimp just outside of the first sand bar. Silver spoons and Bubble rigs are working best for the fast moving Spanish, Bluefish and Skipjack.
SOUND AND BAYS
Navarre area anglers can expect to see Redfish and Trout on the flats early and late in the day. Lately the Mirro Lure MirrOdine has been a hot bait for both. They should also see an increase in Flounder landed as they continue to migrate into the shallows to chase bait fish. The Trout are responding best to a popping cork rig with a live or D.O.A. shrimp. Spanish, Blue, and Skipjack are also making a good showing with small schools popping up along the area flats. These fish are feeding on the schools of menhaden and threadfins that have begun to show up in increasing numbers. Speaking of increasing numbers, Flounder are being caught around docks in the sound with Tiger minnows. Gold spoons are taking their share, but it may be time to break out the 1/4oz jig head with GULP! Shrimp or jerk bait combinations and specifically target the Flounder. These same baits will also take the Redfish, so it’s a win-win situation for you.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
King are biting strong in and around the passes and inshore reefs in 60 to 80 feet of water. Trolling or fly lining live cigar minnows when anchoring up had been the top producer. Dolphin have also started to show up on the few weed lines that have begun to make their way toward shore. 1/2oz to 1oz buck tail jigs or live cigar minnows free lined near the weed line or any floating structure will get the job done. Just remember to leave one hooked fish in the water to keep the school around when you encounter a large school. The near shore reefs and wrecks are also producing good numbers of Grouper, Black Snapper, and Trigger fish. Just remember to have a spinning rod rigged up with a pitch bait in case a Cobia shows up.
OFFSHORE – GULF
Wahoo and Dolphin have been showing up in greater numbers this week. Most of the hoos are being caught while fast trolling between bottom spots. The Dolphin are being caught while trolling the edges of increasing weed lines or by free lining live baits near the weed lines. Tripletail are on the same weed lines as well, so keep an eye out for them. Keep a rod rigged and ready so you can cast a live shrimp or small baitfish to them when the opportunity presents itself. Without a doubt the hottest bite this week has definitely been Red Snapper. Most fish caught have been in the double digits. Just remember that Red Snapper opens June 1, so release them until then. The Grouper bite has remained strong with the larger fish coming in 150 plus feet of water. Fish the largest bait you can find. The blue water bite has exploded this week with the influx of clean water. The Yellowfin bite has been exceptional with most fish being caught during daylight hours. Poppers, jigs and slow trolled ballyhoo will all work. But for the really big fish, a bridled bonito or large blue runner bump trolled around the rigs is the way to go.
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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