We have seen our water temperature fall this week to below 60 degrees. We started the period at 62 and gradually cooled to as low as 59.0. A quick look back to 2021 and 2022 showed the water temperature was 67-63 and 68-64 for this same time those years. However, we did manage to put fish on the deck and had bait around most of the time. Species caught were: Flounder, Re Drum, Black Drum, Bluefish, Whiting, Squid, small Cigar minnows and small Goggle Eyes.
Flounder have tapered off with most of the catches falling below the 14-inch minimum. There were a few decked that were keepers like the one Casey is holding. Small live Cigar minnows seemed to be the best choice fished on a Carolina rig.
Red and Black Drum were prowling the shallows. Several just over slot Reds were caught and a couple of keepers. They were slow to bite but ate Shrimp, small live Cigar minnows, and Ghost Shrimp. Here are a few fish that Steve, Terry, Casey; Jack and I caught the past few days.
Whiting were transitioning in and out but were caught early mornings and late afternoons. Fresh Shrimp, Sand Fleas and Ghost Shrimp were effective. Most of the fish caught were good size. Steve and Terry caught their share along with Brenda and others. (
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 60.4 – 62.1 Whiting, Black Drum, Flounder.
Friday: water temp 59.9 – 61.3 Whiting, Flounder and one slot Red Drum.
Saturday: water temp 60.1 - 61.2
Sunday: water temp 61.0 – 61.5 Flounder, Whiting
Monday: water temp 59.7 – 60.4 Two Black Drum, a Red Drum, Flounder, a couple of Bluefish, and lots of small Cigar minnows.
Tuesday: water temp 59.0 – 60.4 Red Drum, Whiting, Flounder, a few Squid, small Cigar Minnows and Goggle Eyes.
Wednesday: water temp 59.2 – 59.9 One Red Drum, Whiting and Bluefish
Red Tide status: The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Tuesday Dec. 12, 2023 Full Moon Tuesday Dec. 26, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:34am Sunset: 4:46pm
Thursday 21st. 4:01am Low 0:1 6:09pm High 0.9
Friday 4:25am Low -0.3 6:18pm High 1.2
Saturday 5:04am Low -0.5 6:37pm High 1.3
Sunday 5:49am Low -0.7 7:07pm High 1.4
Monday 6:36am Low -0.8 7:46pm High 1.5
Tuesday 7:24am Low -0.8 8:30pm High 1.4
Wednesday 27th. 8:09am Low -0.8 9:15pm High 1.4
Sunrise: 6:37am Sunset: 4:50pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
FRIDAY
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SATURDAY
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A slight chance of showers after midnight.
SUNDAY
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters choppy. Isolated thunderstorms. A chance of rain in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.
MONDAY
Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters choppy. Showers with isolated thunderstorms in the morning, then thunderstorms with showers likely in the afternoon.
MONDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. Showers likely. Thunderstorms likely, mainly in the evening.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (65/47 rain 02% wind NE-08)
FRIDAY (67/52 rain 03% wind ENE-07)
SATURDAY (70/57 rain 08% wind ESE-07)
SUNDAY (69/62 rain 52% wind ESE-12)
MONDAY (67/61 rain 58% wind SE-17)
TUESDAY (67/55 rain 37% wind W-09)
WEDNESDAY(62/49 rain 30% wind WNW-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
