Our water has been clean with temps hovering between 58.4 and 63.3 degrees. Bait fish have been absent. Activity has been slow with fewer fish caught than last period. We have had Red Drum, Black Drum, Flounder, Whiting, Sheepshead, Pompano, Spanish and Squid caught the past 7 days. Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday were our better days. However, timing was key as the bite occurred in a short window of time. If you were not there during those times, you missed the action.
Friday was Sheepshead- day as four were decked. Good numbers of Sheeps were on the pilings. Laureo got things started putting the first one on the deck. Bob R. out a nice one on the deck. Then Chuck O. had a big one to pull the hook. I had a big one to break my line. Chuck decked the next one he hooked, and I did the same. Ghost Shrimp and live Shrimp was the bait of choice.
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Tuesday was Flounder-day with three nice fish caught. Chuck O. caught a 17 inch Flounder on a bull minnow. Butch F. got his best Flounder of the year and Scotty got the big Flounder for the year. Scotty’s fish was just shy of 23 inches. Christian, visiting from Texas got his first Flounder.
Wednesday was Black Drum-day. It was shaping up to be a slow day until we spotted a large dark ball moving east toward the pier. As it approached, we could see that it was a huge school of large Black Drum. Every cast into the school got a hit. Numerous fish were hooked and lost They stayed in casting distance long enough for 6 “Big Uglys” to hit the deck. They were all between 20 and 25 pounds. Robert B., Steve W., Tommy L., Sam P. caught one. A visiting angler from Cuba caught two.
In other action during the period, we caught Squid, File Fish and had a Mascot watching over us. Other fish were caught too as you can see listed in the Daily Report below. One of the Squid I got wat almost 12 inches. File fish were mixed with the Sheepshead and picking our bait off before a Sheepshead would bite. The Mascot was this Pelican that stayed close but didn’t bother anyone.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 61.7 – 59.9 Two small Whiting, 1 tiny Flounder
Friday: water temp – 59.4 - 58.8 – 60.1 Four Sheepshead, 1 small Flounder, 1 tiny Spanish, Blues and 1 bull Red Drum broken off.
Saturday: water temp 60.1 – 59.4
Sunday: water temp 59.5 – 58.4 - 60.8 One Flounder
Monday: water temp 60.8 – 63.3 Two undersize Flounder, 1 Pompano, several Bluefish and three Squid.
Tuesday: water temp 62.1 – 62.8 One Sheepshead, 3 big Flounder and quite a few Squid
Wednesday: water temp 62.1 – 62.6 One small Flounder, 7 Black Drum, a few Squid. Tons of Sheepshead around the pilings but would not eat. Large school of Red Drum in the shallows.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
Full Moon Saturday Feb. 05, 2022 New Moon Monday Feb. 20, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:36am Sunset: 5:14pm
Thursday 02nd. 5:58am Low -0.7 7:35pm High 1.1
Friday 6:36am Low -0.7 8:22pm High 1.1
Saturday 7:09am Low -0.7 9:04pm High 1.1
Sunday 7:33am Low -0.6 9:41pm High 1.0
Monday 7:42am Low -0.5 10:16pm High 0.9
Tuesday 7:40am Low -0.4 10:50pm High 0.8
Wednesday 08th. 7:39am Low -0.3 11:24pm High 0.6
Sunrise: 6:28am Sunset: 5:25pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, then
around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds in the
afternoon. A slight chance of showers. Patchy fog. A slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant
period of 4 seconds. A slight chance of thunderstorms. A chance
of showers in the evening, then showers after midnight.
FRIDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming north in the
afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet with a
dominant period of 5 seconds, building to 5 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds in the
afternoon. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Showers, mainly in
the morning.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to
30 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet with a
dominant period of 6 seconds. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening.
SATURDAY
Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming east 15 to
20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to
9 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds.
SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds.
SUNDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a
dominant period of 6 seconds.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet
with a dominant period of 6 seconds.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (72/53 rain 60% wind SSE-12)
FRIDAY (61/40 rain 73% wind N-16)
SATURDAY (63/47 rain 02% wind ENE-11)
SUNDAY (68/49 rain 09% wind NNE-07)
MONDAY (70/52 rain 06% wind E-06)
TUESDAY (73/59 rain 06% wind SE-09)
WEDNESDAY(75/61 rain 24% wind SSE-11)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Vacant – Bay Co. Parks Division Manager –850-381-8155
Vince Martin – Bay Co. Beach Operations Manager - vmartin@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6580
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
