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The Weekly Fishing Report
Report for 3/30/2012
Salt Water
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE
We are starting to get reports of some King mackerel out there already. What’s even more amazing a lone Mahi-mahi was caught on a weed line out about fifteen miles. Spring has definitely sprung! Water temps are in the low seventies already and we are starting to see herring and a few cigar minnows around the buoys. There have been several nice sized cobia caught in the past couple of weeks, some up into the fifty and sixty pound range! Keeper Amberjack have been co operating and you don’t have to go very far out to find them. Places like the Black Bart and Stage Two have held good fish. You will have to go a little further out to find Bee liners, Black sea bass and Trigger fish. Some really nice size fish have come in this past week. If Spanish mackerel is your thing, it’s game time. They are easily found running along the second sand bar.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Spanish mackerel are everywhere, behind Shell Island, along Beach Drive, in the pass and just about anywhere else you can think of. Sheepshead are in full Spring run and are found anywhere you can find barnacles growing. Larger Reds and some slot size ones are keeping the jetties hopping. Speckled trout and smaller Redfish are on the move up in the grass. They are feeding on the finger mullet and pinfish that are showing up in pretty good numbers now that the water is warming up. Black sea bass are feeding on anything from squid to live shrimp in the channels and around the marinas. Of course, everybody and their brother is out looking for “the man in the brown suit” (Cobia) when it’s calm enough to go. Some nice ones have been landed, I would not call it real hot action yet but they are definitely coming through the area and we should be seeing more of them in the near future.
| Check out these great pictures of Redfish and Sheepshead send in by Gary and Molly | |
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PANAMA CITY BEACH SURF & PIER
Some really nice sized Cobia have been landed this past week. Every pier in the area has laid claim to at least a couple of them. King mackerel are also coming through the area in some pretty good numbers this past week. Bonita, Spanish mackerel and Bluefish are hitting buck tails, spoons and Gotcha plugs. Sheep head are feeding on barnacles attached to the pilings but can be fooled with a fiddler crab or shrimp. Some Redfish reported in the surf while prospecting for Pompano. Not too many reports of Pompano or Whiting (pier or surf) but every now and then a few are landed.
Navarre
PIER
Cobia - The migration has started. There have been several fish caught this week. Most anglers are throwing 3oz Cobia jigs. Some are tipping with squid strips. Other live baits that work well are Pinfish, Hard Head Catfish and live Eels.
King Mackerel - The Kings have moved back in. I have heard of quite a few fish being caught this week. Blue runners and live cigar minnows rigged on stinger rigs are always very effective.
Spanish Mackerel - The Spanish have been chewing the pier down. Gotcha plugs have been the most popular. Bubble rigs and spoons will take their share.
Whiting- The Whiting bite has remained steady over the last week. Fresh peeled shrimp fished on the bottom will produce fish. A standard two hook bottom rig will produce fish. A better rig is a fish finder rig with a fluorocarbon leader and a #6 hook.
Pompano- There has been some nice fish caught this week. The water is now warm enough for these fish to start their migration. Live sand fleas and fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom with a double hook rig will produce. Pompano jigs will also take them.
Bonito- I have not had any reports of these fish being caught this week. This is usually a winter time fish for us, although we have caught fish all year round. Jigfish jigs, Diamond jigs, Buck tailed jigs and silver spoons will take these fish.
Redfish- A few Reds have been caught this week. Some have been oversized and some have been in the slot. Anglers are using live shrimp, live finger mullet or any cut bait. You can catch them with a fish finder rig and a circle hook. Good artificial include a ¾ oz Johnson gold spoon and a 1oz jig with a 4” Berkeley Gulp shrimp.
Flounder- No reports this week.
Sheepshead- There have been some nice fish caught off the pier pilings. Good baits to use are fiddler crabs, small live shrimp, oysters and crab knuckles. A size 1 to size 6 circle hooks with as little weight as possible is a good rig to use.
Black Snapper/Grey Snapper- I have not had any reports of these being caught this week. As the water warms these fish will be readily accessible by late spring.
Black Drum- I have no reports of these being caught this week. These fish aren’t particular on what they eat. Best baits are shrimp, live or fresh dead, and a half of blue crab for the big fish.
SURF
Pompano- There has been some nice fish caught this week. Best baits are live shrimp and sand fleas. Although fresh dead shrimp will work well. Most anglers are using a two hook bottom rig fished in a cut in the sand bars or just over the sand bar.
Redfish- Anglers are catching some big bull reds, and a few slot reds, while fishing for Pompano. The will hit the same baits, but don’t be afraid to try some cut mullet or LY’s.
Sharks- There is several species to catch and area anglers have been catching Black Tip, Spinners, Mako and Bull sharks. Most shark fisherman are fishing high capacity reels with 80# test line on a 50# to 100# rod. They are using fresh Bonito or Skipjack for bait and using a 6’ leader of at least 400# test with large circle hooks and J hooks. They are placing the bait usually behind the first sand bar. There are smaller sharks available in the trough right off the beach.
Skipjack (Ladyfish)– As the water begins to warm these fish start to show up in large numbers. I have had no reports of these being caught, but I don’t think it is far off.
Whiting- The Whiting bite remains steady. These are being caught using a two hook bottom rig with live shrimp or peeled fresh dead shrimp.
INSHORE
Speckled Sea Trout- Fishing for trout has been very good all this week. Live shrimp is a great bait fished under a popping cork. A live Croaker, Finger Mullet or Pinfish can be fished on a cork or on the bottom. Good artificial baits include silver spoons, DOA Shrimp, Yozuri Crystal minnows, MirroLure Mirrodine lures and Berkeley Gulp soft plastics. You may want to try fishing some canal mouths and in the canals. I have had reports of these fish being caught there and in the adjacent grass flats. As the water warms and stays warm, these fish will be on all the grass flats by month’s end.
Redfish- These have been caught on the grass flats with the same baits used for Trout. Although don’t leave home without a 1/4oz Johnson Silver Minnow in gold, DOA shrimp and Berkley Gulp on a jig head. Deep water docks, dock pilings and bridge pilings are all good places to find Redfish, they like being around structure. There can be some good top water action early in the morning casting Skitter Walks and Top Dogs on the flats.
Flounder- There has been a few reports of fish being caught. I use as light of weight as possible when fishing with live bait for these fish. Don’t over look the jig and grub combination or jig and Berkley Gulp combination. Flounder should be showing up in Pensacola Pass now and then will be in the bays and sounds. Flounder love structure, find some pilings, rock piles and oyster bars a little later this month and you should catch fish. Old wooden dock pilings are a great structure that holds fish.
Sheepshead- I have heard of some fish being caught this week. The Pensacola Pass has been very good as of late. Also, these fish will school on the grass flats this time of year. Try fishing around structure like dock pilings, bridge pilings and rock piles too. Best baits are fiddler crabs and small live shrimp.
Black Drum- There has been some nice fish caught around the bridge pilings and any other structure in the sound. Best baits are live or fresh dead shrimp, half of a blue crab and cut mullet. Use a standard fish finder rig and a 1/0 to 3/0 hook and fish it on the bottom around structure.
White Trout- The bite has been very good for these this week. These fish like structure in deep water, like bridge pilings or submerged structure. Jig and grubs and jig with fresh dead shrimp work well fished slowly on the bottom. Live shrimp and fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom with a fish finder rig work well too. They will also hit cut bait fished on the same rig on the bottom. As the water warms the bite will slow down.
OFFSHORE
Trigger Fish- No reports this week.
Red Snapper- This season is now closed for harvesting. Catch and release only. These fish are everywhere! From 2 miles out of the pass to the edge. Live cigar minnows, threadfins, hard tails, pinfish and grunts all work well. Frozen squid, cigar minnows and Bonito chunks will work as well. Butterfly, Bomber and Williamson jigs will catch their share. Look for them on the artificial reefs and natural bottom.
Black Snapper- No reports this week
Scamp- These have been caught this week. You can use a lot of the same baits as with snapper, although live pinfish with the top fin cut off and the tail trimmed work for me. Look for them on any natural bottom or artificial reef. The Yellow Gravel area has been producing fish.
Grouper- The Grouper bite has remained good this week. These fish will inhabit the natural bottom and artificial reefs just like the Red Snappers. Live Grunts, Pinfish and Cigar Minnows will produce fish, but so will the Butterfly, Bomber and Williamson jigs. Try butterflying a natural bait and fish it just off the bottom. Fish are being caught this week in 60’ to 100’.
Amberjack- Some nice fish have been caught this last week on the oil rigs in 400’. Jigs have been the hot baits. Bring some stout gear to turn some of these fish.
King Mackerel- I have had some reports of a few fish being caught on the beach. Live bait can be caught in Pensacola pass and on the Massachusetts. The Mass is also a good place to troll live bait around for the kings.
Wahoo- No reports this week.
Dolphin- There has been some fish caught on the weed patches around 20 miles out. Anglers pitching live cigar minnows and sardines have been very productive using 30# spin gear with 50# braid.
Tuna- There have been some nice fish caught on the weed patches 20 mile out, live cigar minnows and sardines pitched toward the edges of weed patches have been very productive. Yellow Fin in the 60# to 70# range have been readily available.
Black Fin- There has been some good fish caught around the rigs this week. Most fish are between 15# and 30#. Hot baits are the Shimano Butterfly and Bomber Darter jigs in the 3oz and 4oz sizes. A lot of fish were lost to sharks which are very thick on the rigs right now.
White Marlin– No reports this week.
Fishing Report
Whiting continue biting well for surf fisherman this week, but the focus is changing to Pompano as they make their migration along Gulf county beaches. Live sand fleas, fiddler crabs and a variety of small jigs will catch them, also this week the flounder have made their way into the bay. Surf fishing just before sunset may land you a big redfish. Several reports indicate that these bruisers are feeding along the beaches just before dark. Use a 4/0 circle hook Carolina rigged on a 20lb class rod/reel. Anglers who have anticipated the annual cobia run should be very pleased to know that the first Cobia of the season for the forgotten coast was caught near Crooked Island this week on a live pin fish.
Trolling for the Spanish mackerel as well as casting gotcha plugs and spoons proved to be a lot of fun and good fishing this week. The Spanish are here in good numbers and they
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St. Joe Bay Fishing Report
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St. Joe Bay Fishing Report
Fishing Report
A very good Amberjack bite close in, the stages and bridge spans are holding plenty of keeper size jacks. All you need is a good jig to drop down, and you will soon be playing tug of war with a reef donkey who is trying to drag you out of the boat. Bee liners, White snapper, Black sea bass and Trigger fish are helping to fill the box since Grouper and Red snapper are still closed. However, the end of March will re open all Grouper, other than Gag grouper in our area, (Gulf State and Federal waters). See the new regulations released February 2012 for more information, and specific info for your area. Go to http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/regulations/groupers/gulf-grouper/ for direct access to the rule changes. This information is not in the current publication of fishing regulations, so be careful. The recreational open season for Gag grouper for our area, will be July 1st through October 31st.
Sheepshead and Reds are doing their thing in the pass and around the bridges. A few Spanish mackerel in the pass as well. Yes I said Spanish!! Trout, Flounder, and slot sized reds are starting to venture out onto the grass flats now that the water temps have warmed up into the mid sixties. Grassy areas around Millville, Tyndall and West bay have had some schools of Reds sighted in the middle of the day, working the turtle grass for a meal. Pin fish and small crabs are being seen up in these areas again, and this will draw these predators out of their winter patterns. A warm winter may already be giving way to spring. I can't say I have heard of a lot of squid being caught at the local marinas, but they are starting to show up.
Bonita, Redfish, Sheepsheads, Spanish, Flounder, Whiting and Pompano have all been reported by surf and pier fishermen/women. What a smorgasbord! Squid are also being reported from the piers though mostly at night. Still no "verifiable" reports of Cobia yet but the first one will be soon, that
Fishing Report
Still hearing of pretty good trips looking for AJ's, some keeper size jacks coming from as close as four miles out. Evidently they have made a move inshore to feed. Beeliners and Trigger fish are still being found in their usual haunts though. Coral and limestone bottom, better known as "live Bottom" will hold Beeliners, and you pretty much need a large structure to hold Trigger fish, like an old bridge truss or larger wreck. Black sea bass are helping to make the trip out worthwhile, and if you have never had a sea bass filet, you are missing out. They have a delicious, pure white meat that flakes out similar to a grouper filet. Still seeing plenty of Bonita around and we have been getting some squid around the piers and jetties.
Plenty of reported catches of Bull Reds in the pass and around the bridges and deeper channels. Sheep head are a pretty good bet as well here but we have not yet seen them in large numbers yet. Steady reports of Trout, Flounder, and slot sized reds both around the local docks and up in the canals and creeks. Not hot action, but still rewarding none the less. Trigger X, Gulp and Cal baits will work just fine but a live shrimp flipped up under the dock with a split shot to get it down, will definitely get the job done. If you get cut off prospecting with a mono or flourocarbon leader don't be surprised. We are getting more sightings (and catches) of Spanish mackerel, not the spring run yet, but we are very close.
Redfish are present and accounted for at both piers and in the surf, they are hungry and you need to get out there and do your part! Some are slot size, but a lot are over. Around the piers, you can count on Bonita to be around for your entertainment (and bait). Squid are being found in the evening, and if you don't want to just take them home for a meal, they too make great bait, even better when caught live. Sheep head, a few Pompano, Whiting and every now and then Spanish mackerel are getting caught both in the surf and at the piers. No verifiable Cobia sightings yet, even though you will see a few anglers with their dedicated rod at hand, staring off in the distance hoping they will be the first to do so. I'll say it again, if you have not yet gotten your gear ready and stocked up on your favorite jigs, spoons etc. you may be behind the eight ball when the run starts.
PIER
King Mackerel- I have not heard of any Kings being caught this week. Most of the King Mackerel have migrated to the south. With the water being this cold now it is highly unlikely any Kings will be caught until spring.
Spanish Mackerel- I have had reports of some very small fish being caught this week. Most fish have been caught on Gotcha plugs and spoons. Most of the Spanish have started their migration to the south. With the water being this cold it is highly unlikely any Spanish will be caught until spring.
Whiting- The Whiting bite has remained steady over the last week. Fresh peeled shrimp fished on the bottom will produce fish. A standard two hook bottom rig will produce fish. A better rig is a fish finder rig with a fluorocarbon leader and a #6 hook.
Pompano- There has been a few fish caught this week. The cooler weather has helped turn these fish on. Live sand fleas and fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom will produce. Pompano jigs will also take them.
Bonito- The fishing has improved this week with some nice fish caught. It should improve as the water begins to cool down even further. Jigfish jigs, Diamond jigs, Buck tailed
Fishing Report
Inshore Whiting continue to provide the surf fisherman plenty of action along local beaches, however the focus, is changing. Surf anglers are increasingly reporting more frequent catches of pompano. Spanish mackerel have also made their appearance this season, albeit a tad early. Anglers have reported catches of Spanish from along the beaches, the piers, and of course,
Fishing Report
Inshore
The intra-coastal canal is hot this week! From Tapper Bridge to the
Fishing Report
Repeating ALL recreational Grouper are closed untill 3/31/12. Stay tuned for updates on this as Gag grouper (only Gag) may very well remain closed untill 7/01/12. That being said, Amberjack, Red grouper, Bee liners and Trigger fish are still very much on the menu and fairly easy to find. Black sea bass, and White snapper are also getting caught. The further you go, the better the reports have been. Hopefully you have a few hot spots you or someone else hasn't hit in a while. Try dropping a two or even three hook rig using smaller circle hooks and squid. Believe it or not those "cannon ball jelly fish" are also good cut bait for Trigger fish, try it sometime. If this warm winter continues, we could very well have some spring patterns starting very soon. Fine by me!!
It has been somewhat challenging to find Speckled trout and smaller Redfish with the unusually warm weather but they are hungry if you can find them. A few anglers have had some luck fishing up in West bay and in the Sandy creek area. They were fishing up at the shoreline when the tide has flooded the exposed grass and allowed the fish access to where something can be found to eat. Some of the reds were found tailing way up in the exposed grass, these guys are hungry and they will find something to eat. Deerpoint dam is still holding some fish, pretty good flow these days and the mix of salt and fresh water seems to attract fish, not unlike a creek mouth. Sheep head, Bull reds and Black sea bass have all been reported around the Tyndall and Dupont bridges as well as the jetties. Squid are being reported at the marinas at night and nothing works better than a glowing squid jig. They are easy to catch, plentiful and great for bait, or fried up with some marinara sauce for dipping! This is one of the differences between saltwater and freshwater fishing, if you don't catch your targeted species you just eat the bait!
This week has had some better reported catches of Pompano, Whiting, and Redfish around the piers and even in the surf. Some Sheep head have also been seen in spawn mode, and every now and then a few have been coaxed into eating a snack with a cleverly hidden hook in it. Live shrimp work very well and Fiddler crabs are excellent baits if you can get them. Pier anglers are still seeing some Bonita and Bluefish around still and a few Flounder have been caught too. Buck tails and spoons for the Bonita and Blues, and grubs, bull minnows or live shrimp for the Flounder. Squid are being reported around the piers at night as well, time to load up on these great baits or try your favorite recipe with some fresh caught. All this warm weather is already causing some of us to wonder how soon we can expect the first Cobia to be spotted. This is usually a March thing but I don't think the Cobia respect a calender!
Inshore you will find Reds and Sheepshead around the Destin Bridge and the jetties, they are biting live shrimp and fiddler crabs. The trout are in most of the bayous to the east of 331 Bridge and causeway.
Near shore in the gulf you will find a good bite of triggerfish, mingo snapper, white snapper and a few amberjack.
Well offshore near the rigs customers have reported good catches of Wahoo, a yellow fin tuna and quite a few black fin tuna.
In the surf there are few scattered pompano, some whiting and a few reds. Fresh peeled shrimp, sand fleas and fiddler crabs are the best baits.
CENTER>Updated Feb 8, 2012
PIER
King Mackerel- I have not heard of any Kings being caught this week. Most of the King