We enjoyed clean water all week. The water finally reached 70 degrees on Tuesday afternoon. Pompano and Spanish Mackerel were on fire. Other species caught were King Mackerel, Whiting, Red Drum, Flounder, Threadfin Herring, Herring, Cigar Minnows, Ballyhoo, Menhaden and Squid.
The first King Mackerel of the year was decked Saturday morning, and it was a "Smoker”. Hachid N. was the lucky angler. He caught it on a Colt Sniper lure. The King weighed 31.47 pounds. There were two other Kings hooked but lost in the morning and the afternoon was uneventful. Sunday morning, Jose got hammered on his Cigar Minnow by another “Smoker” King. After a good fight, it was successfully gaffed. It weighed 37.4-pounds. Two additional Kings were caught during the morning, one by Carlos S. and I didn’t get a name for the other one. Again, the afternoon was quiet. On Monday afternoon, Jacob J. hiked a big King only to lose it when his fish cut the wire leader. Today there were two hits, but none were caught.
Spanish Mackerel have arrived in big numbers and all sizes. Today was the best bite I have seen in years. We caught fish up to 5-pounds and many others that would fit “axe handle” status. If you didn’t catch your limit, you weren’t trying. There were easily a thousand Spanish to hit the deck during the all-day bite. They were hitting almost anything you cast. Gotchas, jerk bait, spoons, bubble rigs, live bait fish, dead bait fish and even fresh Squid. Tommy L. got two fish this week at over five pounds.
Our shallow water anglers have had a good week as well. The Pompano were biting, and many limits were caught during the past seven days. Both jigs and set rigs with fresh Sand Fleas were productive. The morning and late afternoon bite was best. Brenda George and Jake were three of the many anglers who caught their limits. Here are a few pictures of their fish including one of the two 4.5-pound Pompano George got today.
In other action, Sam got an over slot Red Drum Friday and George got a Black Drum this afternoon.
Notice: There will be a memorial service and bench dedication for our friend Von Haynes on Saturday, May 17, 2025, on the M. B. Miller Pier. As more details are available, I will post them in the pier report.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 66.6 – 68.4 Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, a Whiting, Threadfin Herring, Herring and a few Cigar minnows.
Friday: water temp 67.5 – 69.6 Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, one Red Drum, one short Flounder, a few Squid, Cigar minnows, Ballyhoo and Menhaden.
Saturday: water temp 68.2 Lots of Pompano in am, Three King Mackerel hooked, 1st of year decked by Hachid 31.47# in am. Lots of Spanish Mackerel.
Sunday: water temp 68.7 – 69.3 Pompano, Spanish Mackerel and three Kings decked (Jose’s was 37.4#)
Monday: water temp 69.1- 69.6 Lots of Spanish Mackerel and Pompano. One big King Mackerel hooked but lost due to leader break (Jacob) Squid and a few Cigar minnows and Threadfin Herring.
Tuesday: water temp.68.7 70.9 Pompano and Spanish Mackerel. A few Cigar minnows and Squid.
Wednesday: water temp 71.1 – 73.6 Epic Spanish Mackerel bite all day. Two King bites but nothing decked, Pompano, Squid and a few Cigar minnows.
Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected offshore of Okaloosa County and very low concentrations in two samples collected offshore of Hernando County. Karenia brevis was not observed in samples collected from or offshore of Walton, Bay, Franklin, Levy, Citrus, or Pasco counties.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
Full Moon Saturday Apr. 12, 2025 - New Moon Sunday Apr. 27, 2025
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Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:28am Sunset: 7:03pm
Sunday 4:07am Low -0.3 6:01pm High 1.3
Monday 4:47am Low -0.2 7:27pm High 1.1
Tuesday 5:10am Low 0.1 8:36pm High 1.0
Wednesday 09th. 4:46am Low 0.1 10:54pm High 0.6
2:48pm Low 0.5 9:46pm High 0.8
Sunrise: 6:21am Sunset: 7:07pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming south 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less.
SUNDAY
South winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, diminishing to 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
MONDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
MONDAY NIGHT
North winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers, mainly in the evening.
(local forecast).
SUNDAY (78/68 rain 81% wind S-18)
MONDAY (69/52 rain 88% wind NNW-13)
TUESDAY (71/51 rain 06% wind N-14)
WEDNESDAY(71/54 rain 01% wind NNE-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
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
