Water quality was good all seven days for this report. The water temperature hovered between 68.5 and 70.0 degrees. Unfortunately, it will be falling over the next few days with the forecasted temps after Thanksgiving. We had a fantastic King Mackerel bite the last three days. Spanish Mackerel were few a far between. There were a few Bonita caught along with a couple of Red Drum. The Flounder bite was good with decent size fish being caught. We only have eight more days until the season opens for recreational harvest. Skinny water held a few Whiting, and even a couple of legal Pompano were caught.
Thanksgiving is typically the end of the game for King Mackerel. Of course this is not a fixed end as water temperature and available bait are big contributing factors. This week, Monday, Tuesday and today have proven that Kings are still here and in numbers. There were multiple fish decked each day with the morning bite being the best. Artificial bait seemed to outproduce natural bait, but both resulted in bites. Many of the Kings were “schoolies” however, there were several over 20 pounds as well. Today, a 26-pound fish hit the deck. Check this collection of pictures of some of the fish caught:
Monday- Ernie, Sam and Mikel
Tuesday- Danny and Kyle
Wednesday- Group, Brenda’s two fish, Lori with her first ever King (Larry, her husband helping her hold it), Allan with his triple.
Other action included a few Bonita, a Red Drum and some Flounder. Steve and James are pictured with Bonita they caught. Then Steve holds a Red Drum he decked. Von made a three-day trip from Georgia and caught 9 Flounder each day. Too bad they all had to be released.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 68.5 – 70.0 One King, a few Spanish, a Bonita and a Red Drum, Bait was very scarce, only a few tiny Spanish Sardine and Goggle Eyes.
Friday: water temp 69.3 - 70.0 One small King early am, Spanish, Flounder, Blues and Red Drum, bait was scarce and only small Spanish Sardines, Cigar minnows, and Goggle Eyes
Saturday: water temp 69.6 – 70.0 A few Spanish, Flounder, a couple of Pompano, Red Drum, Bluefish.
Sunday: water temp 68.4 – 70.0 Flounder, Whiting, a couple of Pompano, Bluefish, small Alewives.
Monday: water temp 68.4 – 69.4 Ten Kings, a few Spanish, Flounder, a few Bonita, Red Drum, bait tough to get but a few small Cigar minnows and Goggle Eyes.
Tuesday: water temp 69.1 – 69.8 Kings, Bonita, a few Spanish, small Spanish Sardines and Cigar minnows.
Wednesday: water temp 69.6 – 68.9 – 69.3 Good king bite in am with over a dozen decked, two small Bonita, a couple of Spanish, small: Spanish Sardine, Goggle Eyes and Cigar minnows.
- Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
Full Moon Monday Nov. 27, 2023 New Moon Tuesday Dec. 12, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:14am Sunset: 4:43pm
Thursday 23rd. 3:23am Low 0:5 8:12am High 0.6
10:40am Low 0.6 7:30pm High 1.1
Friday 4:32am Low 0:2 7:25pm High 1.4
Saturday 5:27am Low -01. 7:27pm High 1.6
Sunday 6:23am Low -0.3 7:49pm High 1.7
Monday 7:20am Low -0.4 8:25pm High 1.7 Full Moon
Tuesday 8:14am Low -0.5 9:08pm High 1.7
Wednesday 29th. 9:04am Low -0.5 9:54pm High 1.7
Sunrise: 6:19am Sunset: 4:42pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
THURSDAY
North winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
North winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight.
FRIDAY
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers, mainly in the morning.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less, then around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds after midnight. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers in the evening.
SATURDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SUNDAY
East 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 in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT
East winds around 10 knots, becoming north after midnight. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers.
MONDAY
North 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.
MONDAY NIGHT
North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (62/51 rain 04% wind N-07)
FRIDAY (65/50 rain 04% wind NNW-05)
SATURDAY (69/55 rain 03% wind NE-07)
SUNDAY (68/53 rain 56% wind ENE-09)
MONDAY (64/44 rain 15% wind N-10)
TUESDAY (61/45 rain 12% wind NNE-11)
WEDNESDAY(63/46 rain 12% wind NNE-08)
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
