Report for 06/07/2011
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
The Kings are back, and there are lots of anglers reporting great King mackerel hook ups both close in and out over the wrecks. Mahi-mahi showing up again as well and with the southerly winds prevailing, this will only get better. Gag Grouper is closed now; along with Amberjack. Red snapper is open and has been great! Lots of large snapper to be had and they are hungry! Butterfly style jigs, frozen and of course live bait all work great for these voracious beauties. Once you get your limit of snapper be sure to bring what is needed to target Triggers and Bee liners as they are plentiful out there and make a great addition to any fish fry.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Still a good Bull Redfish bite in the deeper channels and the pass, outgoing tide seems to be the best time to find them. For the "pups" (smaller reds) they have been feeding further up in the bay on schools of LY's and on the small pinfish in the grass beds on an incoming tide. The Flounder bite has improved this past week, they seem to be all over the bay system with the larger ones getting caught in deeper water. The Speckled trout have been hard to find for some early in the morning, but the afternoon bite seems to be better, probably an after effect of the recent full moon. Anglers report a good return on their live shrimp investment around local docks and up in canals. There are plenty of Ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, and Bluefish around to entertain so if you have some young ones to keep busy, it may be time to have some lessons on how to cast a spoon or Gotcha. Be careful, you don't want to join the "Gotcha club". I am sure neither you or your young needs that memory.
PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
Lots of King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and Ladyfish around the piers. Live cigar minnows are best for the kings and have been easier to find lately. Large schools of Redfish have also been reported around the piers and they will readily hit a live minnow. Still some Pompano and Whiting around both in the surf and the piers but not as many as a couple weeks ago. There also still Jack crevalle catches reported along the beach and at the jetties. They have hit small live baits and a good buck tail jig like the Spro green and white in a 1/4 or 1/2 ounce size. Fish the jig fast, don't give them time to think about it, make them work to catch it. Be ready for a fight though, they are tackle busters!
DESTIN
Wow! What a start a start to Red Snapper season. Looked like the Spanish Armada went fishing on opening day and from everyone I talked with they had a great day. Many anglers reported limits of fish easily caught and many of them had very nice sized fish ranging up to 25lbs. Other bottom fish filling the coolers included Trigger Fish, Mingo Snapper, Scamp, and Red Grouper.
Kings are still just on the moderate side. They seem to bite about every other day. Trolling live cigar minnows and Yozuri pink lures have been the best producers.
In the bay, a good bite of Reds around the bridges and flats on both tide changes. Roaming the flats are lots of Ladyfish, a few Spanish, and a few Trout.
In the surf, some nice catches of Pompano, Ladyfish, and Hardtails in the day, after dark the Sharks and Blues move in and get caught on cut mullet.
On the pier it has been slow, an occasional King, plenty of Ladyfish, and a few Hardtails.
NAVARRE
SURF
We are now into June. Hopefully the weather will stabilize a little this month and offer some fishing opportunities. Area fisherman have been experiencing some of the best fishing in recent memory. We should see good numbers of Jack Crevalle in the 20# range as well as small schools of bull Redfish. The Jacks are hitting best on top water poppers and Rapala Skitterwalks. The Black Tip Shark bite is also heating up. Live Hardtails or cut mullet have been the go to bait. The Pompano bite has remained steady with most fish being landed on fresh dead shrimp and live sand fleas when you can find them. On calmer days Kayak fisherman can reach the King Mackerel just at the drop off in 20’ of water. 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. Skipjack (Ladyfish) have also invaded the surf. Any small spoon, diving hard bait or live bait will catch them. Though the food value is very poor they are a lot of fun to catch on light tackle.
SOUND AND BAYS
Area 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.
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, 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 them to catch them. Don’t forget the Gag Grouper is closed until September 16, 2011.
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 upcoming week. They are hitting jigs, live bait and deep running hard baits trolled over shallow reefs and wrecks. Amberjack are almost on every wreck from 60’ on out with the largest fish being caught in deeper water of 100’ or more. With all the bad weather last month the Grouper have almost been left alone. Look for them 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. The amount of debris in the water has also increased this last week. So has the amount of Dolphin and Triple Tail on it. 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.
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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