Our beautiful water took a hit from the storm that came through Wednesday. We started our seven-day report with trashed water clarity, Catfish, Alewives and Hardtails on the only catch. Our water temperature started in the upper 70’s and dropped down to 72 before moderating back to the mid 70’s. Friday saw slightly better water quality with a few Spanish Mackerel entering the catch list. Saturday and Sunday brought better water and the Kings returned. Other species caught were Red Drum, Bonita, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Hardtails and Yellowtail Jacks.
Tournament update: We are now at day 18 of the 43-day BCO King tournament, and the leader board has been active. The tournament began October 1st at 05:00am and had the first fish caught at 3:30pm. John P. would enter the 1st King that weighed 16.63 pounds. John’s fish would be the only fish entered for 11 days, holding the first place slot. Oct. 11, Johnnie S. entered a 6.00-pound King to take the second place slot. Johnny’s second place only held for six hours. At 6:00pm, Rowel Z. caught and entered a fish that hit the scale at 19.70-pounds, which moved him to first place and bumped John to second. No additional Kings were entered until the 14th. Saturday would prove to be an exciting and active day for the tournament. There would be over a dozen Kings to hit the deck. The leader board took another change at 2:00pm when Rowell decked a 16.96-pound fish. This bumped John’s fish down and put Rowell on top holding both first and second place with his two Kings: 16.96 and 19.70. Only an hour later, Hachid would get slammed and would bring a 25.68-pound fish to the scale and take the lead. Now we have Hachid in first place with a 25.68 and Rowel second with 19.70. How about another change only 2 hours later. Hachid wasn’t satisfied with his 25.68. He had to top it with a 33.48-pound “Smoker” at 5:15pm. Are you confused yet…this now bumps Rowel down and places Hachid in the top two positions. So, with a 33.48 and a 25.68-pound fish holding first and second place, you would think that is going to be hard to beat. Saturday’s bite was fantastic with several other nice fish that fell short of the leaders. However, Sunday saw another good King bite. George M. would be the next angler to enter a fish. At 2:50pm, George’s reel began to scream. George would deck a contender. The scale would register 28.22-pounds and move George to second place. Monday, Tuesday and today, there would be no kings entered, and only a couple to hit the deck and no changes to the leader position. Current standings are: Hachid leads with his 33.48, and George has second place with his 28.22. The bar is set high but there should be some nice fish to come through over the next several days. Here are pictures of Hachid’s first place and George’s second place fish:
Here are pictures of Rowell’s 16.96# fish, and two others that Johnnie 17.3# and Bill 12.5# caught during this period:
Other action included good catches of Spanish Mackerel and some Bonita. Check this nice Spanish Butch decked and a group picture of a few buddies with their Bonita:
Red Drum action was scattered the full length of the pier. Many Bulls and a few slot fish were caught during this period. Check the ones that Steve L., Jacob J. and Ivan G. decked. Steve’s was the only slot but the other two were safely returned.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 75.9 – 77.4 Water trashed from yesterday’s storm, Catfish, Alewives and small Hardtails.
Friday: water temp 76.5 – 77.4 Water still dirty, a few Spanish.
Saturday: water temp 76.6 – 78.1 King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Red Drum, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Alewives. Over a dozen Kings up to 33.48# decked. Hachid N.holds: 1st and 2nd in King Tournament with a 33.48 and 25.68 pound Kings.
Sunday: water temp 77.2 – 74.8 Kings, Spanish, Bonita, Red Drum, Ladyfish, George M. took second place in the tournament with a 28.22# King, Alewives and Hardtails.
Monday: water temp 72.5 – 74.8 Four Kings decked, a few Spanish, Red Drum, Ladyfish, Cigar minnows, Alewives and a few Goggle Eyes.
Tuesday: water temp 72.0 – 75.4 A few Spanish, one Bonita, Red Drum, Ladyfish, Cigar minnows, Alewives and a few Goggle Eyes.
Wednesday: water temp 74.1 – 75.0 Spanish in the am and pm, one King in afternoon, Ladyfish, Cigar minnows, Alewives and Hardtails.
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 Saturday Oct. 28, 2023 New Moon Monday Nov. 13, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:47am Sunset: 6:07pm
Thursday 19th. 11:46am Low 0.1 12:04am High 2.0
Friday 12:58pm Low 0:0 12:56am High 2.0
Saturday 2:03pm Low 0.0 1:52am High 2.0
Sunday 2:58pm Low 0.0 2:54am High 1.9
Monday 3:40pm Low 0.2 4:08am High 1.8
Tuesday 4:07pm Low 0.4 6:09am High 1.6
Wednesday 25th. 4:07pm Low 0.4 8:14am High 1.4
10:10pm High 1.0
Sunrise: 6:51am Sunset: 6:01pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
East winds around 5 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters smooth.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds around 5 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
FRIDAY
West winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Gusts up to 30 knots in the evening. Seas 3 to 5 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters choppy.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SUNDAY
North winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
North winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds in the evening, then 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
MONDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
MONDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming east 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters choppy.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (76/66 rain 11% wind SSE-08)
FRIDAY (79/60 rain 24% wind W-18)
SATURDAY (78/64 rain 03% wind WNW-09)
SUNDAY (79/59 rain 04% wind NNW-06)
MONDAY (79/60 rain 02% wind ENE-08)
TUESDAY (79/61 rain 05% wind E-12)
WEDNESDAY(79/64 rain 05% wind ESE-12)
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
