Our fantastic water clarity remains another week, and the average temperature has dropped. We have been down to 81 degrees in the mornings. Spanish Mackerel continue to be thick with Ladyfish schools moving through regularly. We had a few Bonita and even small King Mackerel during this report period. Hardtails and Yellowtail Jacks were common. Red Drum have been gathered in the shallow water, and there has been great access to live bait. The summer crowds have thinned, and the parking lot has ample space available. There will be a special event Sept 28th that will affect parking – see below.
**Pier eastside parking lot: Wheels N’ Waves car show Saturday, Sept. 28th from 08:00am to 1:00pm at the M. B. Miller Pier. The show is free and there will be food trucks on site. Parking will be affected on the east side of the pier so, plan ahead.
We only had King Mackerel caught two days. Thursday morning a single small King was decked. Then we waited until Monday morning, but it was worth it. There was a frenzy bite that lasted about an hour early morning. Multiple small Kings, 28-inches and smaller, were caught. Several anglers got their 3-fish limit. Of course, “Flipper” joined the action and ended the fun.
Spanish Mackerel have been thick almost every day. Most fish were small but larger “axe handles” were mixed with the tiny ones. Occasionally, schools of large Ladyfish came in and the bigger Spanish were mixed with them as well. Jake and George were in the mix when that happened. Check the Spanish Jake caught, and the Ladyfish George decked. Again, “Flipper” made fishing difficult often during the week.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 84.2 – One small king Mackerel, a few Bonita (5-7#), lots of tiny Spanish Mackerel with a few keepers in the mix- one axe handle decked, one Cobia hooked, and a couple others spotted, big Hardtails, a few Bluefish, a couple of Red Drum prowling the shallows, live bait available were small Alewives and tiny Hardtails.
Friday: water temp 85.3 – 85.1 Lots of tiny Spanish Mackerel with a few keepers in the mix, a few Bonita, Hardtails, Cigar minnows, small Alewives and tiny Hardtails. One Sailfish seen but no bite.
Saturday: water temp 83.7 – 84.4 Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, Yellow tail Jacks, a few Bluefish, small Alewives and a few Cigar minnows.
Sunday: water temp Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, Yellow tail Jacks, a few Bluefish, small Alewives and a few Cigar minnows.
Monday: water temp 82.8 – 83.5 Over a dozen small schoolie King Mackerel (preferred jerk baits), lots of Spanish Mackerel from not legal size up to axe handles, hardtails, Yellowtails, Ladyfish, small Alewives and a few Cigar minnows.
Tuesday: water temp 81.5 – 83.3 Reds schooled under the pier in the shallow water, big Ladyfish with a few larger Spanish Mackerel mixed in, tons of tiny Spanish Mackerel, Cigar minnows, small Alewives.
Wednesday: water temp 82.4 -81.5 Spanish Mackerel, few Ladyfish, Hardtails, a few Yellowtail Jacks, Cigar minnows and small Alewives.
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 Tuesday Sept. 17, 2024 New Moon Wednesday Oct. 02, 2024 -
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:25am Sunset: 7:51pm
Friday 5:07pm Low 0.7 5:26am High 2.0
Saturday 5:47pm Low 0.2 6:59am High 2.0
Sunday 6:24pm Low 0.3 8:19am High 2.0
Monday 6:53pm Low 0.5 9:36am High 1.9
Tuesday 6:57pm Low 0.8 10:59am High 1.7
Wednesday 18th. 4:32am Low 0.8 12:15am High 1.0
6:26pm Low 1.1 12:29pm High 1.5
11:51pm High 1.2
Sunrise: 6:29am Sunset: 6:43pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FRIDAY
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 4 feet at 7 seconds and east 2 feet at 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers.
FRIDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 6 seconds and southeast 1 foot at 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY
Northwest 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 west 1 foot at 5 seconds, becoming south 1 foot at 4 seconds and west 1 foot at 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning. A slight chance of showers.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers after midnight.
SUNDAY
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the morning.
MONDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms
(local forecast).
FRIDAY (85/73 rain 61% wind SW-09)
SATURDAY (86/74 rain 12% wind NW-07)
SUNDAY (86/74 rain 35% wind N-07)
MONDAY (85/73 rain 24% wind NNE-08)
TUESDAY (85/74 rain 24% wind N-08)
WEDNESDAY(85/74 rain 24% wind NNW-08)
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
