We are finally cooling down and have had several nights below 70 degrees. Our water temp has dropped and started today (Wednesday) at 77.2. The water is clear with Alewives and Hardtails still abundant around the pier. We had several good days catching Spanish and a couple of days with a few Kings. Red Drum and Pompano have been in the skinny water. There was one Flounder decked. Early Friday morning was a Bonita frenzy. A visiting angler could not figure what he caught until he asked a local. Check the Mantis Shrimp that ate his bait.
The King bite has been disappointing all year. This week was an improvement with several hitting the deck. Victor got things started on the 29th with a decent King. Then the 30th, Steve L. brought one over the rail. Sept. 01, turned out to be the best day as several fish were caught. Hector, George, Brenda, and Willy decked decent Kings. The bite was just before sunset. Most bites were on bait but a couple came on lures.
Spanish Mackerel have been biting very early mornings and just before sunset. Bubble rigs with a small Clark spoon and Gotchas have worked well. A few anglers managed to catch their limit. However, if you only fished 9am to 5pm you went home toting a zero.
Shallow water has produced several Red Drum and Pompano. Patience was the key to a catch. Live small Alewives were the bait of choice for the Reds. Steve and Gary put several Reds on the deck during the week. Gary caught the largest at 35 inches.
Pelicans have been a problem forever and they seem to get bad this time of year as they try to prepare for the winter. This week was especially hard on the birds as a large number were hooked and injured. Many patrons do not know what to do when they either hook one or have one fly into their line and get entangled. These birds (Brown Pelican) are currently PROTECTED by the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act. So, what should we do as good stewards of our environment. Most situations can be avoided by paying attention to your bait and try to keep it out of reach for the birds. If you do hook one or become entangled with one, ask for help. DO NOT just cut your line. This essentially is a death warrant for the bird. The line will wrap the bird so it cannot fly, or it will get entangled with the pier pilings leaving the bird to die a slow and miserable death. They do roost in trees so if they are able to fly off, many will get entangled on the limb while at roost and are helplessly trapped to suffer starvation or die from the heat. DO NOT keep jerking your line trying to rip the hook from the bird. This results in their pouch being ripped. Then when they try to feed, any fish they are able to catch escape through the ripped pouch and the bird slowly starves to death. Make your best effort to retrieve the bird onto the pier and remove all line and hooks - if possible. There are signs posted on the pier with instructions and most local fishermen will help. Pier staff will help if you have a bird that is injured. They transported several to a veterinarian this week to get their pouch sutured. The attached picture is what it looks like when their pouch is ripped by hooks.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
Full Moon Sunday Oct. 09, 2022 New Moon Tuesday Oct. 25, 2022
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:39am Sunset: 6:22pm
Thursday 06th. 5:39pm Low 0.5 7:59am High 1.8
Friday 5:48pm Low 0.7 9:21am High 1.6
11:18pm High 1.0
Saturday 3:12am Low 0.9 10:44am High 1.4
5:14pm Low 1.0 10:59pm High 1.2
Sunday 4:55am Low 0.8 12:20am High 1.2
4:25pm Low 1.1 10:47pm High 1.4
Monday 6:16am Low 0.6 10:09pm High 1.6
Tuesday 7:34am Low 0.5 10:24pm High 1.7
Wednesday 05th 8:50am Low 0.4 10:58pm High 1.8
Sunrise: 6:42am Sunset: 6:15pm CDST
Water temperature: 78
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MM | DD | TIME
(EDT) | WDIR | WSPD
kts | GST
kts | WVHT
ft | DPD
sec | APD
sec | MWD | PRES
in | PTDY
in | ATMP
°F | WTMP
°F | DEWP
°F | SAL
psu | VIS
nmi | TIDE
ft |
10 | 05 | 5:54 am | ENE | 6.0 | 7.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.05 | - | 66.6 | 77.9 | - | - | - | - |
10 | 05 | 5:48 am | ENE | 6.0 | 7.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.05 | - | 66.4 | 77.9 | - | - | - | - |
10 | 05 | 5:42 am | ENE | 6.0 | 8.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.05 | - | 66.0 | 77.9 | - | - | - | - |
10 | 05 | 5:36 am | NE | 7.0 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.05 | - | 66.4 | 77.9 | - | - | - | - |
10 | 05 | 5:30 am | ENE | 6.0 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.05 | - | 66.6 | 77.9 |
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The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Northeast winds around 5 knots. Waves 1 foot or less.
Protected waters smooth.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds around 5 knots. Waves 1 foot or
less. Protected waters smooth.
FRIDAY
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less.
Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or
less. Protected waters a light chop.
SATURDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet
with a dominant period of 2 seconds. Protected waters a moderate
chop.
SATURDAY NIGHT
North winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northeast
10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant
period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SUNDAY
Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, diminishing to 10 to
15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant
period of 4 seconds. Protected waters choppy.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet
with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate
chop.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (84/61 rain 02% wind WNW-08)
FRIDAY (86/64 rain 02% wind NW-07)
SATURDAY (87/59 rain 01% wind NNE-11)
SUNDAY (84/59 rain 00% wind N-11)
MONDAY (85/64 rain 00% wind NNE-10)
TUESDAY (86/66 rain 04% wind ENE-11)
WEDNESDAY(85/68 rain 10% wind E-11)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Vacant – Bay Co. Parks Division Manager –850-381-8155
Vince Martin – Bay Co. Beach Operations Manager - vmartin@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6580
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
