We enjoyed clean water all week. The wind picked up Tuesday and Wednesday creating tough fishing conditions. Tuesday, we had 20-25 MPH wind and Wednesday Gail warnings were posted with winds steady over 25 and gusting to almost 40 mph. Water temps fluctuated from 62 to 65 degrees. Species caught included, Red Drum, Bonita, Spanish Mackerel, Squid and one Atlantic Kingfish (Whiting).
Daytime fishing was slow but if you could last until almost sunset, you had a good chance of hooking a Red Drum. The Reds seemed to move in just before sunset in the shallows. Fishing fresh Squid on the bottom was the most productive method. Lee L. was the star of the week decking several big Reds. All fish were over-slot and were returned to fight another day. Saturday had the best bite as 5 Reds came over the rail, 3 by Lee.
Tuesday morning, the wind brought the Bonita. The bite was hot for a couple of hours with schools of 2–4-pound Bonita prowling from the surf out to the end Tee. Bubble rigs with a fly, small spoon, or small jerk bait, and diamond jigs were the ticket. Around 30 hit the deck before the bite ended. Here are a few of the ones caught by Sonny, Anthony and Brenda.
Sheepshead were thick several days but just would not cooperate. Mikel had fished hard with little success. I had reported in the last report that he caught two on the last day of that report period. I didn’t get the picture of the second one until after the report had been posted. So, here is the bigger of the two he decked. We didn’t weigh it, but it was nice!
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 63.1- 65.3 One Atlantic Kingfish (Casey), one Red Drum 31” late afternoon (Lee L.)
Friday: water temp 62.6 – 64.0 A few small Spanish Mackerel, one Red Drum 33” late afternoon (Lee L), Squid late.
Saturday: water temp 63.0 – 65.3 Five Red Drum, 3 by Lee L. and 2 by other anglers-all over-slot, a few Spanish Mackerel, Squid.
Sunday: water temp 62.5 – 63.9 A few small Spanish Mackerel, lots of Squid.
Monday: water temp 61.9 – 63.3 A few Squid
Tuesday: water temp.62.1 – 64.2 Lots of small Bonita in am. Strong wind and rough water.
Wednesday: water temp 63.3 – 64.0 Strong wind, current and very rough water.
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 Friday Mar. 14, 2025 - New Moon Saturday Mar. 29, 2025 -
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Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:02am Sunset: 5:45pm
Thursday 06th. 1:43am Low -0.6 2:06pm High 1.3
Friday 2:50am Low -0.7 3:30pm High 1.3
Saturday 3:45am Low -0.7 5:23pm High 1.3
Sunday 5:32am Low -0.6 7:44pm High 1.2
Monday 6:13am Low -0.5 8:46pm High 1.2
Tuesday 6:45am Low -0.2 9:41pm High 1.0
Wednesday 12th. 6:59am Low -0.1 10:36pm High 0.9
Sunrise: 6:55am Sunset: 5:49pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming north 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet after midnight. Wave Detail: Northwest 4 feet at 8 seconds, becoming west 3 feet at 7 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
FRIDAY
East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: West 2 feet at 7 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds around 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 6 seconds and south 1 foot at 3 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
SATURDAY
South winds around 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
SATURDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
SUNDAY
Southwest winds around 15 knots, becoming west in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
SUNDAY NIGHT
North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY
North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers in the morning.
MONDAY NIGHT
North winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers in the evening.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (64/48 rain 00% wind NW-11)
FRIDAY (70/63 rain 04% wind SSE-04)
SATURDAY (70/61 rain 88% wind SSW-08)
SUNDAY (67/53 rain 58% wind NW-13)
MONDAY (65/50 rain 19% wind NNW-14)
TUESDAY (71/56 rain 03% wind SW-07)
WEDNESDAY(73/62 rain 18% wind SSE-10)
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
