It was a challenging 7 days with the water very dirty most of the time. The wind kept the conditions rough. The water temperature ranged from 64.0 to 68.9 degrees. Despite the conditions, the following species were caught, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, Red Drum, Black Drum, Flounder, Bluefish, Croakers, Silver Trout, Whiting, Catfish, small Sharks, Squid, Threadfin Herring, Ballyhoo and a Cigar minnow. We finally had a few bait schools come in. Ballyhoo were moving through on Friday. Threadfin Herring were hanging around the end of the pier today and a Cigar Minnow was caught today.
Our “Spring Breakers” got in on the action this week. Andrew, from Georgia, hooked a big bull Red Drum Friday. After a good fight he got it into the net and onto the pier for a quick picture before releasing it. Then Monday, Cade, from Kentucky, tied into a big Red that charged under the pier and out the opposite side. We all thought it was a lost cause but with some determination and a lot of luck, Cade was able to bring the fish back to the pier and through the pilings, without getting cut off. The next challenge was getting the fish into the net with a strong current and choppy conditions. After several tries, we were able to net the Red and get it onto the pier. Another quick picture and then a release. Lee L. put a decent Red onto the deck Thursday. Finally, today, Quang caught the only slot Red Drum for the week that measured 21 inches. Fresh Squid for bait seemed to get the most attention.
Our lady anglers had a good time showing us their skills. Chandy, from North Carolina caught several small fish, including two undersize Pompano. Then she got a good hit. She wrestled the fish back to the pier and over the rail - another Pompano but a good sized one. Then today, Kim was soaking Sand Fleas on her rig when she hooked something that felt very heavy. There were several set rods stacked along the rail that presented a challenge, but Kim hung in there weaving through the lines and landed her first “Big Ugly”. The Black Drum was almost too heavy for her to lift but she managed to get the 28-pounder up for a quick picture. There were several other nice Pompano caught this week. The bite was best, early mornings and just before sunset.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 64.9 – 67.3 A few squid early. A few Bluefish and small Croakers.
Friday: water temp 66.2 – Ballyhoo, a Red Drum (Andrew fm GA) Several Pompano, A Croaker.
Saturday: water temp 67.3 – 68.7 Gale force winds. One Red
Sunday: water temp 67.3 – 68.9 Water very dirty. Catfish and small Sharks.
Monday: water temp 64.4 – 65.8 Wind and very dirty water. One over-slot Red Drum (Cade from KY), Sail Catfish, Hardhead catfish and small Sharks.
Tuesday: water temp.64.0 – 65.8 A few small Spanish Mackerel, one undersize Flounder, a Red Drum hooked and lost, a couple of Whiting, a silver Trout, a few Croakers, a few Pompano late evening and a pig fish.
Wednesday: water temp 64.9 – 67.1 A few Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, a big Black Drum (Kim 28 pounds), a slot Red Drum (Quang), a Bluefish and a couple of Silver Trout, Squid, Threadfin Herring and one Cigar Minnow.
Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed in samples collected from or offshore of Escambia, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla, Levy, or Pasco counties. No samples from Santa Rosa, Walton, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Citrus, or Hernando counties were analyzed this week.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Saturday Mar. 29, 2025 - Full Moon Saturday Apr. 12, 2025 -
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Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:45am Sunset: 6:54pm
Thursday 20th. 12:37am Low -0.2 1:42pm High 1.2
Friday 2:13am Low -0.3 2:35pm High 1.3
Saturday 3:16am Low -0.4 3:38pm High 1.3
Sunday 4:03am Low -0.4 4:54pm High 1.3
Monday 4:43am Low -0.4 6:21pm High 1.3
Tuesday 5:17am Low -0.4 7:45pm High 1.3
Wednesday 26th. 5:44am Low -0.2 9:07pm High 1.1
Sunrise: 6:38am Sunset: 6:57pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots, diminishing to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less.
FRIDAY
North winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northwest in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds around 5 knots, becoming southwest in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less.
SUNDAY
Southeast winds around 5 knots, becoming south in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
SUNDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. A chance of showers after midnight.
MONDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
MONDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a slight chance of showers after midnight.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (64/43 rain 05% wind WNW-18)
FRIDAY (63/50 rain 02% wind NNW-09)
SATURDAY (70/57 rain 05% wind WSW-09)
SUNDAY (72/63 rain 06% wind SSE-13)
MONDAY (69/53 rain 88% wind WSW-08)
TUESDAY (73/58 rain 08% wind WNW-08)
WEDNESDAY(74/55 rain 04% wind WSW-10)
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
Timothy Pentice- Bay Co. Asst. Div. Mgr. – tprentice@baycountyfl.gov – 448-217-4219
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
SLP053@BELLSOUTH.NET
770-265-2879
