It has been a tough week. Friday evening, Jan. 05, 2024, I got the notification that our good friend, fishing buddy and oldest fisherman on the pier had passed away. Paul Hampton Bennett was 92 years, 6 months, and 2 days old. He touched the lives of everyone he met with his positive attitude and infectious demeanor. He never met a stranger. Paul was well known for his love to target Sheepshead and Red Drum. Paul would spend hours hanging over the rail and calling the Sheepshead names as he got frustrated with their finicky bite. He was a treasure, and I will miss him every day, yet smile with the gift of memories he gave me. Paul can now fish anytime he wants without the physical conditions that he delt with. Sheepshead and Red Drum are forever biting at his new fishing hole. Fish on Paul…
The water temperature stayed below 60 degrees. The clarity was not bad until Monday afternoon. A strong front moved in with gale force wind and heavy rain. There were even a few tornados. The surf and current were too strong to fish Tuesday. Wednesday turned out to be the best catching day of the period.
Thursday through Sunday, there were a few Red Drum, Whiting and a Sheepshead. Thursday, I managed to get my first Sheepshead for the year. River decked his first ever Whiting and Chuck ended the day with a nice Red Drum. Sunday, Brenda got into the big Whiting. Then, Sunday, Steve W. caught a big Red Drum.
Today, Wednesday, was the better catching day for the period. The water was still rough and dirty but was fishable. Jack almost had the pier to himself, and it paid off. He decked 5 Red Drum, lost 2 more, caught a Black Drum, some Whiting and a couple of Pompano.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 58.1 – 59.4 One slot Red Drum, one Bull Red, one Sheepshead and several Whiting.
Friday: water temp 57.4 – 59.0 A few Whiting in the morning, a Red Drum hooked but lost.
Saturday: water temp 58.6 – 59.7 Whiting
Sunday: water temp 58.5 – 59.7 Red Drum
Monday: water temp 59.2 – 58.6 Wind, rough and dirty water
Tuesday: water temp 57.9 -59.0 Heavy rain, Gale force wind, rough and nasty water. Had a 62mph gust at 06:30.
Wednesday: water temp 57.4 – 58.1 Red Drum, Black Drum, Whiting, Bluefish, and a couple of Pompano, Water rough and dirty.
Red Tide status: The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Thursday Jan. 11, 2024 Full Moon Thursday Jan. 25, 2024
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:39am Sunset: 5:01pm
Thursday 11th. 7:50am Low -1.1 9:26pm High 1.5
Friday 8:33am Low -1.0 10:22pm High 1.4
Saturday 9:10am Low -0.9 11:15pm High 1.2
Sunday 9:35am Low -0.7
Monday 9:36am Low -0.4 12:03am High 0.9
Tuesday 9:07am Low -0.1 12:41am High 0.6
9:43pm Low 0.2 4:04pm High 0.3
Wednesday 17th. 7:13am Low 0.1 12:20am High 0.2
3:57pm High 0.6
Sunrise: 6:39am Sunset: 5:06pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming east 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of 8 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters rough. A chance of showers in the evening, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
FRIDAY
Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming southwest 25 to 30 knots in the afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds, building to 6 to 9 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds in the afternoon. Protected waters very rough. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
FRIDAY NIGHT
West winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Seas 8 to 11 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters very rough. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 25 to 30 knots, diminishing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 7 to 10 feet with a dominant period of 8 seconds, subsiding to 5 to 7 feet with a dominant period of 8 seconds in the afternoon. Protected waters very rough.
SATURDAY NIGHT
North winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming northeast 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 4 to 6 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters choppy.
SUNDAY
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers after midnight.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (64/56 rain 06% wind ESE-08)
FRIDAY (73/39 rain 83% wind SSW-23)
SATURDAY (56/40 rain 01% wind NNW-12)
SUNDAY (61/48 rain 08% wind E-08)
MONDAY (62/43 rain 53% wind NNE-09)
TUESDAY (48/27 rain 19% wind N-12)
WEDNESDAY(46/37 rain 08% 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
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
