We began this report period last Thursday with dirty water. Finally, Sunday, the clarity was looking fishable. The water temperature has dropped from 81 to the upper 70’s. The following species were caught, Sailfish, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Red Drum, Flounder, Pompano, Bonita, Whiting, Ladyfish, Hardtails, Yellowtail Jacks, Alewives, Cigar minnows and Threadfin Herring.
The 2024 BCO King Mackerel Tournament continues until Nov. 17, 2024. Registration is open. You can register for this FREE tournament by text or email to Sam Patrick @ 770-265-2879 or SLP053@BELLSOUTH.NET We currently have 104 registered participants.
We began this week with Danny N’s 12 lb. 5 oz. fish in the lead and Taras B’s 10 lb. 5 oz. holding second place. There was a King just over 15 lb. caught but CZ, the angler had not registered (he is now). This status remained until Wednesday. Today we played musical chairs, and the lead changed several times. It began about 9:20 am when Wayne W. hooked a nice fish. It was fowl hooked in the side. Fortunately, Wayne was able to get it to the gaff without the hook pulling loose. His fish weighed 18 lb. 14 oz. and would knock Danny to second and Taras to 3rd place. This would change again at 12:15 when Chung K. decked a 21 lb. 6 oz. King. Now Chung moved to first and Wayne was bumped to second. Thirty minutes later, Danny N. would regain the lead with a nice 21 lb. 9 oz. fish. I barely got the leader board updated when 35 minutes later, Rowell Z. would deck a big fish. Rowell’s fish would top the day weighing 26 lb. 6 oz. Nothing else would threaten the standings until 4:20pm when John P. caught a nice fish. We knew it would not beat Rowell’s fish but thought it might go for second. The official scale indicated 20 lb. 8 oz. A nice fish but just shy of capturing a place in the tournament. So, as of tonight, Rowell holds 1st place with his 26 lb. 6 oz. fish and Danny is in 2nd with his 21 lb. 9 oz. King. There were several other Kings caught during the week.
Red Drum were hot in the shallows. Both big Bull Reds and slot fish were caught. Small live bait fish or fresh Sand Fleas free lined of fished with a Carolina rig produced bites. Here are shots of some of the Reds caught by Paul, Heath, Jeffrey, Mark, David and Steve:
Only a few Bonita have been caught during the week. We could see a few schools feeding well beyond casting distance, but they just didn’t move in. Sol managed to catch her first one and obviously she was happy.
Flounder are now closed for recreational fishermen until Dec. 01, 2024. Not many anglers fished for them before the closure, but a few were caught. This fish was caught by a visiting angler using a Sabiki rig. It was a little short of the 14- inch minimum and had to be released.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 80.8 – 81.3 Dirty water. Lots of Ladyfish, small Spanish Mackerel, a couple of small Red Drum and Alewives.
Friday: water temp 78.8 – 80.4 Water clarity better but not clean. A few Spanish Mackerel, small Red Drum, Ladyfish and a Flounder. Alewives for bait.
Saturday: water temp 78.4 – 79.7 Spanish Mackerel, a couple Red Drum, a Flounder and a Pompano. Alewives.
Sunday: water temp 77.7 – 80.4 A couple of small Red Drum, a Flounder, a Pompano and a few Spanish Mackerel. Alewives. The water was looking much better.
Monday: water temp 77.7 – 79.7 Three Kings early, several Bonita and Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish, Flounder, Alewives and a few Cigar minnows. Danny N weighed in a 12# 5oz King to take over 1st place in the tournament. A 15.5# King was caught but the angler, CZ was not registered in the tournament.
Tuesday: water temp.78.1 – 79.5 A few Spanish Mackerel, Whiting, Red Drum, Alewives and a few Cigar minnows. Tyler caught and released a small Sailfish.
Wednesday: water temp 76.5 – 77.9 Several big King Mackerel, a few Spanish Mackerel, a couple of Red Drum, one small Sailfish hooked but lost, Alewives, Cigar minnows and a few Threadfin Herring.
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 Thursday Oct. 17, 2024 New Moon Friday Nov. 01, 2024 -
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:46am Sunset: 6:09pm
Saturday 9:07am Low 0.0 10:45pm High 2.1
Sunday 10:31am Low -0.1 11:29pm High 2.1
Monday 11:47am Low -0.1
Tuesday 12:57pm Low -0.1 12:31am High 1.9
Wednesday 23rd. 2:01pm Low 0.0 1:32am High 2.0
Sunrise: 6:50am Sunset: 6:03pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
(local forecast).
SATURDAY (75/56 rain 08% wind NW-08)
SUNDAY (77/61 rain 10% wind E-10)
MONDAY (77/64 rain 21% wind SE-10)
TUESDAY (77/68 rain 24% wind SW-10)
WEDNESDAY(77/67 rain 24% wind WSW-11)
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
