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
Snapper are definitely on the menu! They are pretty easy to find and some very nice sized specimens are being hauled in on a regular basis. The water has warmed considerably and this has pushed the Kings and Mahi out to cooler waters, say twenty miles or so. Of course, every day is different and if a good southeasterly wind persists, we will get some cooler bluer water in a little closer. Some really nice catches of Triggers, Bee liners, and Red grouper have been reported. It's plenty hot, bite wise and temperature wise, so bring along some shade and plenty to drink because there are some quality fish out there waiting for your hook.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Really good reports on the Speckled Trout bite from West bay all the way to East bay just before the high tide when the relatively cooler gulf water is pushing up into the bay. Smaller reds will also be found at this time. If you find schools of LY's you have found fish. Bigger reds still working the channels and they are not very finicky, any good live bait will do but a live crab will do best. Reports of Flounder are still pretty strong with bigger ones in deeper water down current of a grass flat, like deep water and redfish points.
PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
The King Mackerel bite has slowed lately but there are still a few being caught. There are very few if any Spanish. Bonita and Ladyfish are getting caught pretty regularly and will make good bait for the sharks that are also readily available. Big Redfish are hanging around the piers and will give a run for your money, but will probably be too big to keep. Be sure not to gaff them as there are rules against gaffing a fish that is either over or under size. There has been some live cigar minnows but not a lot. Live bait has been a little difficult to find and catch lately I'm told, so you may want to bring along some frozen as back up. The surf fishing scene seems to be rather slow, save for some Black tips and the occasional Catfish, but it still beats a stick in the eye!
PROOF THERE ARE STILL LARGE RED SNAPPER OUT THERE
31lb. Red Snapper caught aboard the Captain Mike docked at Captain Anderson's Marina
DESTIN
Fishing is fantastic. Red snapper continue to dominate the docks along with some huge wahoo.
Bottom Fishing Red snapper are plentiful in water from 60 to 200ft deep. You can almost pick your favorite method and it will surely work. I fished last Thursday with the Charter Boat Lady Em and I did very well butterfly jigging. The other people on the boat almost seemed to do better on fresh bonita strips than live cigar minnows. Included in our catch was plenty of mingo snapper, trigger fish, about a 12lb black snapper, and 3 nice red grouper. We fished in 100 to 125 of water down the east beach.
Trolling near shore Kings are on again and off again this week. We are on a full moon so the king bite is very early in the morning, very late in the day and a short run for an hour or so around noon. Lots of bonita, a few Spanish, and dolphin.
Trolling off shore About 35 mile almost due south or 10 miles south of the Ozark there has been a nice color change with quite a few wahoo and dolphin. Further off shore, just south of the spur has been another nice area with some yellowfin tuna and several blue marlin.
Pier Fishing A few kings again very early and very late, and a few tarpon hooked this week. Hardtails and ladyfish have been very plentiful and a few reds and blues are being caught after dark.
NAVARRE
SURF
Hopefully the weather will stabilize a little this week and offer some fishing opportunities. Area fishermen 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.
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. The DOA popping cork and shrimp is a good combination also. 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 the grouper to catch them. Keep in mind that both Black and Gag grouper season is still closed.
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.
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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