Another week in the books with a mix of water clarity. Water temperatures remained in the upper 70’s from Thursday until Tuesday afternoon when we broke 80 degrees. Bait has been around making it easy to catch live bait. Species of bait were: Cigar minnows, Spanish Sardine, Alewives, Speedos and small Bonita. The bite was slow most of the days with the best action very early mornings and just before sunset. Fish Species caught were: King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, Ladyfish and small Sharks.
Cobia season is coming to a close. Many would say there was no season this year as there still hasn’t been a legal one caught. There were several tiny Cobia caught in the 15-18 inch size. Jeffery hooked a legal-size fish but lost it at the gaff. Eddie hooked one on his King rig Friday morning but lost it in the pilings. It looked to be around 30 pounds. The Bay County Outdoors/ Rapala prize for the first caught legal Cobia is still in play until June 01, 2024. If no fish is caught, that prize will go to the angler that decks the first Mahi.
A few small King Mackerel have been caught the past seven days. All were small with most under 10-pounds. Friday and Wednesday were our best days with multiple fish hooked. .”Flipper” was our biggest obstacle and was ever present stealing our bait and fish. Both fresh bait and lures were productive. John and Nory are pictured with a couple of Kings they caught.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 77.9 – 79.7 “Flipper” was a pest all day. Only a couple of Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, small Sharks, Alewives and a few small Cigar Minnows.
Friday: water temp 79.3 – 79.9 Early am, Eddie hooked one approx. 30# Cobia but lost it in the pilings, a few Spanish Mackerel, late afternoon 5 King Mackerel bites with 3 small ones decked (all on lures), Ladyfish, Hardtails, Cigar Minnows and Alewives.
Saturday: water temp 79.2 – 78.1 one small King Mackerel in the early morning and one in the late pm, Hardtails.
Sunday: water temp 77.5 – 80.2 One very small King Mackerel, Hardtails.
Monday: water temp 78.1 – A couple of Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, A few very small Bonita and Ladyfish came in late afternoon. Alewives and a few Cigar Minnows.
Tuesday: water temp. 78.4 – 80.8 A few Spanish Mackerel in the am on the outer sand bar, Hardtails and ladyfish in the pm, Three small King Mackerel hooked, two taken by “Flipper” and one lost at the gaff. A few Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, Cigar Minnows and Alewives. “Flipper” was eating bait and fish all afternoon.
Wednesday: water temp 79.5 – 81.9 Six dink King Mackerel hooked, 4 decked, one hook pulled and “Flipper” got the other. A few Spanish, Hardtails and Ladyfish. Bait was here: Cigar Minnows, Speedos, Spanish Sardine and Alewives. Again, “Flipper” was a pest taking our bait and fish.
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 May 23, 2024 - New Moon Thursday June 06, 2024
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 5:44am Sunset: 7:35pm
Thursday 23rd. 8:46pm Low -0.3 9:22am High 1.7
Friday 9:38pm Low -0.3 10:07am High 1.8
Saturday 10:27pm Low -0.4 10:57am High 1.8
Sunday 11:13pm Low -0.4 11:48am High 1.9
Monday 11:55pm Low -0.4 12:38pm High 1.9
Tuesday 1:24pm High 1.8
Wednesday 29th. 12:31am Low -0.2 2:09pm High 1.6
Sunrise: 5:42am Sunset: 7:38pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet in the morning, then 1 foot or less. Wave Detail: Southeast 1 foot at 4 seconds and south 1 foot at 7 seconds, becoming southeast 1 foot at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: South 1 foot at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: South 1 foot at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet in the evening, then 1 foot or less. Wave Detail: South 1 foot at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
SATURDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Wave Detail: Southwest 1 foot at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less, then around 2 feet after midnight. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop.
MONDAY
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop.
MONDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a moderate cho
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (83/75 rain 10% wind S-10)
FRIDAY (82/76 rain 24% wind SSW-12)
SATURDAY (84/76 rain 09% wind SW-12)
SUNDAY (84/77 rain 20% wind SSW-14)
MONDAY (84/75 rain 24% wind SW-16)
TUESDAY (85/70 rain 43% wind W-13)
WEDNESDAY(86/70 rain 03% wind NW-12)
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
