The water was beautiful. The report period started warm with water temps almost 60 degrees. By Sunday, a strong cold front began moving in with wind and rapidly dropping temperatures. Monday morning, the pier was empty with an air temperature of 27 degrees. The forecasters warned of a winter storm like we haven’t had since 1989. The predicted snow and winter mix caused the County to announce the pier would close Tuesday and Wednesday. By mid afternoon Tuesday, snow began to fall with accumulation shortly afterward. By 5:10, the temp was 27.9 with a wind chill at 15 degrees. Snow would continue until almost midnight and accumulations were common at just over three inches. This morning, the water temp had dropped to 50.0 degrees. Despite the weather, we did catch a few fish early before the storm. Sheepshead, Flounder, Bluefish, Whiting, Black Drum and Squid were caught.
Thursday, we saw a few Flounder, Bluefish and Squid caught. I managed to entice one Sheepshead to eat a Ghost shrimp. Then they developed lockjaw and would not eat.
Friday, there w Squid early morning. Then several Flounder and Bluefish were caught. Chuck managed to get a doormat Flounder that was 18-inches.
Sunday, about mid- morning the Bonita came in. Several hit the deck before it was too cold to fish. Casey and Mahmoud braved the cold wind to deck a few.
Monday morning the pier was empty. It was 27 degrees and windy. Tuesday and today the pier was closed due to winter storm Enzo.
This is a picture of my front yard Tuesday evening.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 57.7 – 59.7 A few Flounder and Bluefish, Squid early morning. One Sheepshead.
Friday: water temp 59.0 – 60.6 Squid early morning, A few Bluefish, an 18-inch Flounder and a 23-inch Red Drum.
Saturday: water temp 58.5 – 60.3 A few squid, Whiting and Bluefish. One Black Drum.
Sunday: water temp 59.7 – 60.1 Mid morning, small 2-3# Bonita. Temperatures began dropping and the wind increased. Major cold front moving in for the next several days.
Monday: water temp 57.2 – 58.3 Pier empty with morning air temp at 27 degrees.
Tuesday: water temp.56.3 – 55.2 Pier closed due to winter weather. Snowing with accumulation. Air temp at 5:10pm 27.9 with a wind chill at 15.4 degrees.
Wednesday: water temp 50.0 -56.1 Pier closed due to winter weather. Several inches of snow on the ground. Air temp 21 degrees at 7:45am
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 Jan. 13, 2025 New Moon Wednesday Jan. 29, 2025 -
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:39am Sunset: 5:05pm
Friday 8:46am Low -0.4 11:34pm High 0.6
Saturday 8:26am Low -0.2 11:41pm High 0.4
Sunday 7:52am Low -0.1 3:17pm High 0.4
Monday 6:34am Low 0.0 3:00pm High 0.5
Tuesday 3:17am Low -0.1 2:54pm High 0.7
Wednesday 29th. 3:24am Low -0.3 3:24pm High 0.9
Sunrise: 6:37am Sunset: 5:11pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
(local forecast).
FRIDAY (48/31 rain 05% wind NNW-09)
SATURDAY (54/40 rain 05% wind ESE-07)
SUNDAY (61/48 rain 05% wind SE-07)
MONDAY (61/49 rain 24% wind S-07)
TUESDAY (61/50 rain 15% wind NW-07)
WEDNESDAY(65/56 rain 12% wind SE-07)
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
