BAY COUNTY OUTDOORS (BCO) in cooperation with Bay County Recreation is promoting a King Mackerel Pier Tournament on the M. B. Miller Pier. Registration is FREE! It is simple to register and only requires your Name, contact Phone Number and Email. The Tournament will begin at 05:00 a.m. Sunday, October 01, 2023, and end Sunday, November 12th. at 6:00 p.m.
Registration is FREE. You can enter by sending your Name, contact E-mail and your Phone Number to Sam by Texting or E-mail here: Text-770-265-2879 or E-mail- SLP053@BELLSOUTH.net
Tournament prizes will be fishing tackle, provided by the following sponsors: Rapala, D.O.A. and Howell Tackle. NO CASH. There will be two places:
1st: $500.00 equivalent of tackle
2nd: $350.00 equivalent of tackle
Sam Patrick will be the Tournament Official to weigh and record all entries. He will weigh fish Sundays through Fridays between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and on Saturdays between 1:00pm and 6:00pm. If he is not on the pier, you can call him at: 770-265-2879 during the listed weigh-in hours. If you weigh-in the top two fish by weight, you can win both places. In case of a tie, the first fish weighed will take the lead in that category. The fish must be caught from the M.B. Miller Pier. The fish must be hooked and caught by a single angler using a lure or natural bait. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) laws and regulations, all Bay County Pier regulations, and Tournament Rules must be followed, or the angler will be disqualified.
Tournament Rules
1: Tournament begins 05:00 a.m. October 01 and ends November 12, 6:00 p.m. and will award a 1st and 2nd place winner.
2: Fish must be caught from the M. B. Miller (County) Pier.
3: Fish must be hooked and caught by a single angler using a lure or natural bait. No assistance landing the fish other than by a net or gaff.
4: Anglers must be registered on the Bay County Outdoors King Mackerel Tournament web site prior to entering a catch. Registration is free and only requires your name, email, and a contact phone number.
5: Sam Patrick is the designated Tournament Official and will register and certify all entries.
6: Rapala, D.O.A. and Howell Tackle are the prize sponsors.
7: Official weigh-in will be between 10:00am and 6:00pm Sundays through Fridays and between 1:00pm and 6:00pm on Saturdays. Sam can be contacted at 770-265-2879 during the official weigh-in times to enter a catch.
8: In the event of a tying weight fish, the first caught will take priority. A single angler may win both 1st and 2nd place with two qualifying fish.
9: All Tournament rules, FWC laws, Bay County Recreation and Pier rules must be followed, or the angler will be disqualified.
Pier Report
Our water temp has cooled from just shy of 88 to just over 83 degrees the past seven days. The water clarity has improved each day. The King bite has been better, and Bonita have been here almost every morning. A few Spanish were caught most days. Ladyfish and Hardtails were easy to catch. Alewives and some Cigar minnows were around. Of course, we had “the tax man” to deal with every day.
The King bite was improved with as many as five being hooked one day. Many of the fish were undersize but some upper scooolie size were in the mix, as well as a 20.45-pound King that Jose decked. Spanish up to 3 pounds hit the deck. Bonita were thick today (Wednesday) with at least 30 being caught. They ranged from baby Bonita up to almost 4-pounds. Cannon, from Tennessee got his first ever Bonita.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 86.0 – 87.6 Three Kings hooked- Sam and John decked one each and Chewy lost his fish at the gaff, Lots of Bonita in the am and a few in the pm, Several Spanish and a few Ladyfish, Hardtails and Alewives.
Friday: water temp 85.6 – 87.4 Five Kings hooked, 2 short and were thrown back, one lost at gaff and two decked (Hachid’s fish was about 12#, Keith’s fish about 6#), a few Bonita early am and one in pm, several nice Spanish, Hardtails and Alewives.
Saturday: water temp 85.5 – 87.3 A few Spanish and one Bonita
Sunday: water temp 85.6 – 86.7 Hai got a Bonita and Jose got a King early am. Four hooked in pm, three decked by Jose and his son Jose’s biggest was 20.45#.
Monday: water temp 85.8 - 86.4 Hardtails, Yellowtail Jacks and a few Ladyfish, Alewives.
Tuesday: water temp 84.2 – 86.4 One 26” King, Hardtails, Yellowtail Jacks, a few Ladyfish, Alewives and a few Cigar minnows.
Wednesday: water temp 85.6 – 83.3 Couple of undersize Kings, A few Spanish, lots of small Bonita, Ladyfish, Hardtails, a few Alewives and Cigar minnows.
Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Bay County.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
Full Moon Friday Sept. 29, 2023 New Moon Saturday Oct. 14, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:30am Sunset: 6:41pm
Thursday 21st. 1:25pm Low 0.3 1:22am High 1.9
Friday 2:47pm Low 0.2 2:15am High 2.0
Saturday 3:47pm Low 0.1 3:19am High 2.0
Sunday 4:38pm Low 0.1 4:42am High 2.0
Monday 5:23pm Low 0.2 6:28am High 2.0
Tuesday 6:02pm Low 0.3 8:03am High 1.9
Wednesday 27th. 6:31pm Low 0.6 9:27am High 1.8
Sunrise: 6:33am Sunset: 6:33pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly in the morning.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY
Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, diminishing to 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the morning.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning.
SATURDAY NIGHT
North winds around 10 knots, becoming northeast after midnight. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds in the evening, then 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT
East winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less, then around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds after midnight. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
MONDAY
East winds around 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY NIGHT
East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (88/70 rain 24% wind ENE-14)
FRIDAY (88/67 rain 06% wind NE-12)
SATURDAY (87/70 rain 03% wind N-09)
SUNDAY (88/72 rain 03% wind SSW-08)
MONDAY (88/73 rain 06% wind SE-09)
TUESDAY (87/72 rain 20% wind SE-08)
WEDNESDAY(86/70 rain 24% wind ESE-09)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Vince Martin – Bay Co. Parks Division Manager - vmartin@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6580
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
