Memorial Day weekend was off the chart busy. Panama City Beach opened most of it’s businesses after being shut down by the Covid 19 scare and people flocked to the beach. Traffic was a nightmare and the pier saw crowds that were close to a record. What better time to hold a pier tournament. I arrived at the pier about 5:00 am and the parking lot was already half full. Anglers were standing in line waiting to wet their lines. The Hardtail anglers easily outnumbered the tournament group. Rail space was a premium and making your way to the Tee was like walking the gauntlet. The crowds continued all weekend and all day Monday.
The tournament started early with first lines hitting the water at 5:30 am. The last fish had to be over the rail by 6:30 pm to be entered. Two divisions were offered with the King Mackerel anglers comprising 22 contestants and the Spanish Mackerel 23 contestants. The wind, water quality and presence of bait had everyone excited with high expectations. The suspense didn’t last long as the first King hit the deck at 5:36 am and weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces. Von H. was the lucky angler and immediately got a line back in the water as he never expected this fish to stay on top of the board long. Apparently I was distracted registering anglers and failed to get a picture of Von’s King. (sorry Von) Spanish began to cut bait and it wasn’t long before Dylan A. brought the first one to the scale. His 1 pound 6 ounce fish got the Spanish division started at 6:12 am. At 8:34 am, Marty E. would deck the next Spanish to be weighed. Marty raised the bar with his 4 pound fish. Mid-morning, Kevin G. got a solid hit and line began to peel off the spool. Kevin worked his King across the front to the west corner only to have the hook pull. His chance to top the leader board vanished. As the minutes and hours ticked by, no other Kings would be caught. Marty’s Spanish was only challenged at 10:26 when Dillon brought a 3 pound 7 ounce Spanish to the scale. As the deadline passed, Von’s 7#7oz. King and Marty’s 4# Spanish held all day. Congratulations winners! Fortunately for Marty, Jeff from Alabama was not entered in the tournament. I weighed a 5 pound 8 ounce Spanish he decked at 8:09 am.
In other action during the tournament, Dillon decked a Smooth Puffer “Rabbit fish” on a Cobia jig.
The pier produced King, Spanish, Sheepshead, Red Drum, Hardtails and Ladyfish on days outside tournament day. Sunday, several small Kings were decked and another that was reported to be high teens. Steve L. caught his personal best Spanish that weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces. Mark and I got Reds and Sheepshead.
Water temperature: 78-80
MM | DD | TIME
(EDT) | 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 |
05 | 27 | 6:24 am | ENE | 4.1 | 5.1 | - | - | - | - | 29.90 | - | 71.6 | 78.4 | - | - | - | - |
05 | 27 | 6:18 am | E | 4.1 | 7.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.90 | - | 71.6 | 78.4 | - | - | - | - |
05 | 27 | 6:12 am | E | 5.1 | 7.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.90 | - | 71.6 | 78.4 | - | - | - | - |
05 | 27 | 6:06 am | E | 5.1 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.90 | - | 71.6 | 78.4 | - | - | - | - |
05 | 27 | 6:00 am | E | 6.0 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.90 | +0.00 | 71.6 | 78.4 | - | - | - | - |
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-city
Tides for the week: Full Moon Friday June 05, 2020 New Moon Sunday June 21, 2020
Sunrise: 5:43am Sunset: 7:38pm
Friday 12:42am Low -0.1 2:29pm High 1.4
Saturday 1:11am Low 0.1 3:13am High 1.2
Sunday 1:27pm Low 0.3 3:52pm High 0.9
Monday 1:20am Low 0.5 8:42am High 1.0
5:17pm Low 0.6 9:24pm High 0.7
11:45pm Low 0.6
Tuesday 5:55am Low 0.2 8:36am High 1.2
Wednesday 03rd. 6:48pm Low 0.0 8:33am High 1.4
Sunrise:5:41am Sunset: 7:42pm
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
FRIDAY
South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest in the
afternoon. Seas 1 foot. Dominant period 4 seconds. Protected
waters mostly smooth. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east early in
the morning. Seas 1 foot. Protected waters smooth. Slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY
East winds around 5 knots becoming southwest 5 to
10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot. Protected waters smooth.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot.
Protected waters mostly smooth.
SUNDAY
North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west in the
afternoon. Seas 1 foot. Protected waters a light chop.
(local forecast)
FRIRDAY (82/74 rain 80% wind SSW-08)
SATURDAY (84/72 rain 20% wind W-07)
SUNDAY (86/70 rain 20% wind NW-07)
MONDAY (87/72 rain 10% wind ESE-10)
TUESDAY (84/72 rain 20% wind ESE-13)
WEDNESDAY(84/73 rain 10% wind SE-11)
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
