Report for 05/20/2011
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
Well the full moon has had an effect on the bite as well as the cooler temperatures. The Kings and Mahi have pushed out further off shore along with the sargassum weed, and the afternoon bite is definitely better than morning. Good reports on Red Grouper out past nine miles on live bottom using pinfish and small squirrel fish. Around your bigger wrecks, a larger live bait or butterflied frozen northern mackerel is the ticket for Gag Grouper. Loads of large Red Snapper are being caught in the process, but this bodes well for our upcoming snapper season (June1st.). Amberjack, Triggerfish, and Bee liners are plentiful in say eighty feet or more. Whether you choose live or frozen bait, or even jigs and artificial, there are some quality fish to be had. So gear up, Snapper season is almost upon us!
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
There are lots of reports of Redfish hitting topwater on a hard running, out going tide. Deep water like the jetties, and even around the Hathaway and Tyndall bridges have been the places to be. Everything from gold spoons to artificial crabs and of course live bait is working. Most will be too large to keep but they sure are fun to catch! Lots of Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel, and Bluefish around still, and they have been pretty easy to find. Flounder are being caught pretty dependably on bull minnows and artificial grubs. Seawalls, docks, and any drop offs are good places to try for them. Speckled Trout have no doubt been feeding at night with the recent full moon, but the evening bite is still producing keepers especially on a falling tide. Try a bait that has a glow in the dark ability. Ever look at a shrimp in the water after dark with a light? Their eyes seem to glow or reflect light, either way glow baits work well in low light situations.
PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
Reports of Pompano and Whiting catches are pretty good both at the piers and in the surf. Twenty to thirty pound flourocarbon should keep you from losing your jig to a Bluefish or Spanish, but bring some spares just in case. King Mackerel reports have been almost non-existent lately, but warmer weather is coming and with the upcoming high pressure, they should return soon. Some nice sized Jack crevalle have schooled up and are being caught along the beach. They love a fast moving, brightly colored topwater plug or, a free lined bait tossed in with a little live chum. And boy can they give you a run for your money on light tackle! I have even seen some recipes popping up for them lately! I guess I'd try just about anything once.
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
SURF
The Cobia have just about gone for the season, but there are plenty of King and Spanish Mackerel to keep us busy. The Tarpon have showed up early too. 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. 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 number, 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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