Winter has dropped in on us and dropped the water temperature. We were as low as 63.5 during the week. It is time to switch gears and tackle to prepare for a different kind of fishing. Kings have left for warmer water and the last few Spanish were caught this past Thursday. Sabiki rigs were the only thing that they were biting. Flounder, Red Drum and Whiting have been the primary catches for the past seven days. A few Octopus have made their way around the pier. We haven’t seen the pier empty of people in a while but the cold air Friday kept everyone inside until later in the day. Check this screen shot of the pier Friday morning and a shot of Rowell’s Octopus:

Anglers hope that the Flounder will continue to be here on Dec. 01, when the season opens. There have been numerous fish caught daily this week. Good size Flounder were common. Live small Cigar minnows were the hot bait.
Red Drum were not thick, but several were caught. Harley and Paul scored on the 27th, and I got one on the 21st. Tuesday,Roger, visiting from Greenville, AL, had a blast catching a 33 inch Bull. Live Cigar minnows and live Shrimp were the go-to bait.



We haven’t seen Whiting in a while but that changed Monday. That afternoon the small Whiting were thick at the first Tee. That continued Tuesday but with larger Whiting. Today (Wednesday) the Whiting were back by mid-afternoon. Fresh dead shrimp seemed to be your best bait. Harley and Jesus spent a couple of hours at the cleaning table with their catch:
Day by Day:
Thursday: morning water temp dropped to 66.4 at 05:30. There were a few small Spanish caught on sabikis, couple of slot reds on small cigs and a few Flounder caught on small cigs and live shrimp.
Friday: morning-pier empty, 34.2 degrees, wind 7-9mph from N, water temp 65.8 Flounder caught
Saturday: 4:00 to 5:00pm water temp at 66.7 Flounder caught
Sunday: 11:40am water temp 64.8 a couple of Bonita and Flounder
Monday: 6:20am water temp 63.5 Couple of over-slot Reds, Flounder and lots of small Whiting caught
Tuesday: Flounder, A Bull Red and lots of Whiting caught with larger ones in the mix today
Wednesday: Flounder and Whiting caught, water got up to 65.5 by end of the day.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
Full Moon Wednesday Dec. 09, 2022 New Moon Friday Dec. 23, 2022
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:15am Sunset: 4:43pm
Thursday 24th. 7:29am Low -0.4 8:10pm High 1.7
Friday 8:34am Low -0.6 9:47pm High 1.9
Saturday 9:34am Low -0.6 10:44pm High 1.9
Sunday 10:30am Low -0.6 11:40pm High 1.8
Monday 11:22am Low -0.5
Tuesday 12:07pm Low -0.3 12:32am High 1.6
Wednesday 30th. 12:33pm Low -0.1 1:16am High 1.3
Sunrise: 6:20am Sunset: 4:42pm CDST
Water temperature:68-63.5
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MM | DD | TIME (EST) | WDIR | WSPD kts | GST kts | WVHT ft | DPD sec | APD sec | MWD | PRES in | PTDY in | ATMP °F | WTMP °F | DEWP °F | SAL psu | VIS nmi | TIDE ft |
11 | 23 | 6:54 am | NNE | 7.0 | 8.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.17 | - | 57.7 | 64.8 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 23 | 6:48 am | NNE | 7.0 | 11.1 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 57.9 | 64.6 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 23 | 6:42 am | NE | 7.0 | 11.1 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 57.9 | 64.6 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 23 | 6:36 am | NE | 7.0 | 9.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 57.9 | 64.6 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 23 | 6:30 am | NNE | 7.0 | 9.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 57.9 | 64.6 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 23 | 6:24 am | NE | 8.0 | 9.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.15 | - | 57.9 | 64.8 |
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The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet
with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate
chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet
with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate
chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after
midnight.
FRIDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet with
a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
A slight chance of thunderstorms. A slight chance of showers in
the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet
with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate
chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers,
mainly in the evening.
SATURDAY
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a
dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A
chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters
choppy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
SUNDAY
Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming west 10 to
15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant
period of 6 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A chance of showers
with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning.
SUNDAY NIGHT
West winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest
after midnight. Seas 2 to 4 feet with a dominant period of
8 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (72/66 rain 16% wind ENE-09)
FRIDAY (74/61 rain 42% wind SSW-08)
SATURDAY (71/66 rain 59% wind ESE-11)
SUNDAY (69/53 rain 37% wind W-15)
MONDAY (69/53 rain 05% wind WNW-04)
TUESDAY (73/62 rain 21% wind SE-10)
WEDNESDAY(74/57 rain 58% wind S-13)
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