Beautiful water was our view all week with the water temperature ranging between 69 to 73 degrees. We finished another week of the 2023 BCO Cobia Tournament with no Cobia caught. Registration is still open and is FREE. Bait has been schooled around the pier every day. Species caught included: King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Sheepshead, Pompano, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Black Drum, Squid and Cigar minnows.
The Cobia tournament currently has 114 registered anglers. You can still enter by sending me your name, phone number and e-mail by text or e-mail to 770-265-2879 or slp053@bellsouth.net The prize tackle has been ordered and I will post a picture of the 1st and 2nd place prizes when they are delivered. Good luck!
King Mackerel were on the chew Saturday afternoon during the stormy weather. There were 15 Kings that hit the deck with many more lost or missed. The bite window was tight and only off the West corner of the Tee. Natural bait was their choice. Five more Kings were caught Sunday, late afternoon with Tiger decking a 26.5 pound fish. Young Kaleb, fishing with his dad Allan from Louisiana got a nice one.
The Pompano bite has kept us entertained daily. Too many anglers to mention caught fish with many limits placed in coolers. Both set rigs with Fishbite/Sand Flea bait and jigs were productive. The best bite seemed to be late afternoon and evenings.
Schools of Jack Crevalle passed the pier frequently during the week. Many of the schools would not bite, no matter what was presented to them. However, several fish were decked over the last 7 days. Jacob and Bella were a couple of the anglers that decked Jacks. This was Bella’s first Jack and the first fish off her new custom rod.
Black Drum in large schools gave a few anglers a fight as they passed the pier. Several were decked during the week like these that Sam and Bob (from Georgiana, Al.) caught.
Sheepshead are usually very difficult to catch from the pier, but this week several were hooked on set rods with Pompano rigs. Robert, visiting from Griffin, Georgia hooked two. The first one broke off as he tried to lift it from the water. The second was netted. James hooked one on his set rod too. Mikel managed to get one to bite today the normal way using a Fiddler Crab.
Kaleb not only got in on the King action but got this huge Squid as well. We are still getting big Squid despite there being Spanish Mackerel in the area. The one Kaleb is holding is one of the biggest I have seen in a while.
Other action saw lots of Hardtails and a few Ladyfish. The Hardtails were hitting most anything but especially the large Sabiki rigs.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 69.8 – 71.8 Pompano, A few Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish, big Hardtails, one Red Drum, Cigar minnows.
Friday: water temp 71.4 – 72.9 Pompano, 1 Sheepshead, 3 Black Drum, 3 Jack Crevalle, a few Spanish Mackerel and some big Hard tails
Saturday: water temp 72.1 – 73.0 A few Pompano and Spanish Mackerel, 15 “scoolie” King Mackerel during the afternoon thunderstorm, 2 Cobia horned
Sunday: water temp 72.3 - 73.4 A few Spanish Mackerel and Pompano, 5 King Mackerel, Hardtails, Cigar minnows
Monday: water temp 72.0 – 72.1 A few Pompano and Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, Black Drum, Cigar minnows, a few King Mackerel hooked after 7:00pm but none landed
Tuesday: water temp 70.9 – 72.1 A few Pompano, a short 30 minute Spanish Mackerel bite early morning, a few Cigar minnows and big Squid, one Sheepshead
Wednesday: water temp 71.2 – 73.2 A few Spanish Mackerel and Pompano, Hardtails, big Squid, Cigar minnows, 3 King Mackerel bites with none hooked.
- Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at low concentrations offshore of Taylor County (please visit https://myfwc.com/redtidemap for more details).
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Wednesday Apr. 19, 2023 Full Moon Friday May 05, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:17am Sunset: 7:09pm
Thursday 20th. 7:52pm Low - 0.1 9:59am High 1.3
Friday 9:12pm Low -0:2 10:15am High 1.4
Saturday 10:20pm Low -0.2 10:51am High 1.5
Sunday 11:22pm Low -0.2 11:34am High 1.6
Monday 12:21pm High 1.6
Tuesday 12:24am Low -0.2 1:09pm High 1.5
Wednesday 26th. 1:25am Low -0.2 1:58pm High 1.5
Sunrise: 6:04am Sunset: 7:173pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming east 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
FRIDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
SATURDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming north after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
SUNDAY
North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
North winds around 10 knots, becoming northeast after midnight. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
MONDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
MONDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (80/60 rain 04% wind SE-13)
FRIDAY (79/66 rain 17% wind SSE-14)
SATURDAY (78/58 rain 36% wind NW-10)
SUNDAY (79/61 rain 00% wind NNE-10)
MONDAY (78/62 rain 06% wind E-11)
TUESDAY (78/65 rain 44% wind SE-14)
WEDNESDAY(76/65 rain 58% wind SSE-13)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Joy Saddler – Bay Co. Parks Division Manager –850-248-8730
Vince Martin – Bay Co. Asst. Parks Division Manager - vmartin@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6580
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
