Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 82.8 NE 5-7mph in the a.m. / 84.2 SW 10-12mph in the p.m. The water was clean. The morning condition was flat with a very slow bite. The wind switched to the SW in the afternoon and brought a few fish. Five King Mackerel were hooked before 5:00p.m. Three were decked. Jose and Dom caught snake Kings and Sam decked an 18-pound fish. Between 5:00 and sunset, George caught two snake Kings and Hachid got a 10-12-pound King. George also got 4 big Spanish Mackerel. Bait was very difficult to catch.
Friday: water temp 83.1 N 6-9mph in the a.m. / 84.4 WSW 12-15mph in the p.m. The water was clean but flat in the morning. The wind switched after lunchtime and gave us a good chop on the water. As of 5:00, there had been only two “Snake” King Mackerel caught. Jose gotc356) the first one on bait and Dom got one on a Sniper lure. Between 5:00 and sunset, there were three more small Kings and a few Spanish Mackerel like these George caught.
Saturday: water temp 82.9 N 4-5mph in the a.m. / 84.9 W 9-12mph in the p.m. The water was clean but flat in the morning. The wind switched after lunchtime and there were a few Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel caught. Spoons seemed to get the most attention. Live bait was hard to catch.
Sunday: water temp 84.0 E 4-8mph in the a.m. / 84.7 W 6-8mph in the p.m. The water was clean. There was a good Spanish Mackerel bite in the morning with some bigger fish caught. A Sailfish was hooked and almost eaten by a big Barracuda. The afternoon was dead except for a few Ladyfish.
Monday: water temp 84.7 ENE 5-8mph in the a.m. / 84.7 WSW 8-10mph in the p.m. The water was clean. There were a few Spanish Mackerel in the morning and an even better bite midafternoon. There were 4 King Mackerel hooked and three “schoolies” decked like this one George got. Schools of big Ladyfish came in late afternoon with lots caught. A few more Spanish came in just before sunset.
Tuesday: water temp 84.0 NNE 4-7mph in the a.m. / 85.5 SW 8-10mph in the p.m. The water was clean. There were small Spanish Mackerel in the morning. Mark F. decked a 27-inch Red Drum in the shallows. The afternoon brought several very small King Mackerel. Quang caught the biggest at about 10-pounds. Nory got a nice Spanish and a snake King. Sam got two snake Kings and Allan got one. Late afternoon, the big ladyfish came in. There were Alewives and Cigar Minnows available for live bait.
Wednesday: water temp 84.4 ENE 4-6 mph in the a.m. / 86.0 SSW 9-13 in the p.m. The water was clean. The morning saw a few Spanish Mackerel and some small Ladyfish. From about 2:45 until 5:00, there were six small King Mackerel. I got one about 8-pounds, Allan got two snakes, David and Jose got a snake and there was one coming over the rail as I left that looked to be undersized. Alewives and Cigar Minnows were available for live bait.
Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in four samples from Northwest Florida.
2025 Bay County Outdoors King Mackerel Tournament Starts Sunday, Sept. 28, at 06:00a.m.
(As of 09/24/25 we have 101 registered)
Below are the names I have on the registration list as of 7:30pm 09-24-25. I will edit this list as new registrations come in. We have 101 anglers so far. If you have sent your registration request and do not see your name here, let me know.
Best Anthony
Bourkard Casey
Bryant Brett
Cam Smith Jordan
Camp Tyler
Cabanday Joevem
Canter John
Cavitt Ernie
Claar Dominic
Cook Gemel
Cornwell Danny
Daniels John
Deleon Hector
Dennen Paul
Dillman Robert
Duenas Geovani
Duggar James
Eppinger Austin
Eppinger David
Eppinger Heath
Flynn Nathan
Galusha Ivan
Garen Blasito
Gebhardt Chuck
Grabbe James
Grantham Kyle
Hansen Garrett
Hansen Justan
Hare Taylor
Haynie Chandler
Heath Bill
Hooks Nehemiah
Hsu Meissen
Irvin Hobie
Jackson Khalil
Jaramillo Norito
Juarez Jesus
Killion Bill
Langlotz Brock
Layton Steve
Lebarron Tommy
Lewis Brenda
Martin Philip
Martinez Tiger
Melton Gatlin
Merrick Brandon
Mourad George
Mustelier Carlos
Nam Darin
Nelson Gordon
Nesbitt Jason
Neu Larry
Neu Lori
Nguyen Khoa Dan
Norris Landin
Noss Jared
Nunes Hachid
Oliver Chuck
Palmer Jalen
Pike Stoney
Plummer Austin
Polendey Felix
Porter Mason
Powell John
Power Jake
Power Marisela
Prentice Tim
Ramos Willy
Richardson Kelly
Rivers Joshua
Rodriguez Julian
Rodriguez Marco
Rossi Bob
Salameron Carlos
Salameron Dawn
Sharpec Joe
Siler Johnnie
Simmons Travis
Sisana Bounnam
Snabel Jeff
Souza Allan D.
Stanton Tyreque
Stevenson William
Stewart James
Stinnett Jim
Thomas Jeffery
Truong James
Truong Andy
Vale Dennis
Vale Renee
Vandever Scott
Vanier Kim
Vines Haden
Weldon Josh
Wells Dillon
Wick Brad
Wick Sr. Brad
Wooten Granger
Wu Wayne
Zeringue Hunter
Zuniga Rowel
BAY COUNTY OUTDOORS (BCO) in cooperation with Bay County Recreation is promoting a King Mackerel Pier Tournament on the M. B. Miller Pier. Registration is FREE! It is simple to register and only requires your Name, contact Phone Number and Email. The Six Week Tournament will begin at 06:00 a.m. Sunday, September 28, 2025, and end Sunday, November 09, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Registration is FREE. You can enter by sending your Name, contact E-mail and your Phone Number to Sam by Texting, Messenger or E-mail here: Text-770-265-2879 or E-mail- SLP053@BELLSOUTH.net
The tournament prizes will be fishing tackle, provided by the following sponsors: Rapala and 3rd Coast Lures, NO CASH. There will be two places:
1st: $500.00 equivalent of tackle plus a bonus prize provided by Bay County Recreation Department.
2nd: $350.00 equivalent of tackle
Sam Patrick will be the Tournament Official to weigh and record all entries. He will weigh fish Sundays through Fridays between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and on Saturdays between 1:00pm and 7:00pm. If he is not on the pier, you can call him at: 770-265-2879 during the listed weigh in hours. If you weigh in the top two fish by weight, you can win both places. In case of a tie, the first fish weighed will take the lead in that category. The fish must be caught from the M.B. Miller Pier. The fish must be hooked and caught by a single angler using a lure or natural bait. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) laws and regulations, all Bay County Pier regulations, and Tournament Rules must be followed, or the angler will be disqualified. Tournament Rules
1: Tournament begins 06:00 a.m. September 28, 2025, and ends November 09, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and will be awarded a 1st and 2nd place winner.
2: Fish must be caught from the M. B. Miller (County) Pier.
3: Fish must be hooked and caught by a single angler using a lure or natural bait. No assistance landing the fish other than by a net or gaff.
4: Anglers must be registered with Bay County Outdoors - King Mackerel Tournament prior to entering a catch. Registration is free and only requires your name, email, and contact phone number.
5: Sam Patrick is the designated Tournament Official and will register and certify all entries.
6: Rapala and 3rd Coast Lures are the prize sponsors. One bonus prize, donated by Bay County Recreation, will be awarded to the 1st place winner.
7: Official weigh-in will be between 10:00am and 6:00pm Sundays through Fridays and between 1:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturdays. Sam can be contacted at 770-265-2879 during the official weigh-in times to enter a catch.
8: In the event of a tying weight fish, the first caught will take priority. A single angler may win both 1st and 2nd place with two qualifying fish.
9: All Tournament rules, FWC laws, Bay County Recreation and Pier rules must be followed, or the angler will be disqualified.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Sunday Sept. 21, 2025 – Full Moon Monday Oct. 06, 2025
Tides for the upcoming week:
Friday 10:28pm Low 0.5
Saturday 11:53am Low 0.4 12:22am High 1.9
Sunday 1:25pm Low 0.4 1:09am High 1.9
Monday 2:37pm Low 0.3 2:03am High 1.9
Tuesday 3:28pm Low 0.3 3:04am High 1.9
Sunrise: 6:36am Sunset: 6:27pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
FRIDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
SATURDAY
North winds around 5 knots, becoming west in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
North winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
MONDAY
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
MONDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (85/74 rain 42% wind SW-12)
SATURDAY (87/71 rain 10% wind WNW-09)
SUNDAY (89/71 rain 06% wind N-09)
MONDAY (88/71 rain 05% wind NNE-10)
TUESDAY (88/71 rain 06% wind N-10)
WEDNESDAY(87/70 rain 14% wind NE-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
