The water clarity has been good and the temperature has been between 68-71, depending on time of day and the night time temps. Bait has been around in good supply with Cigar minnows, Scaled Sardines and small Alewives schooling near the pier. Kings have been scarce as you could probably count the number caught on one hand. They have been very small and only early mornings. Live frisky bait or X-raps was the only ticket. Given the weather forecast for Sunday forward, we will probably drop below 65 for the water temp. That will almost end the chance for Kings. The Spanish bite has been sporadic with good catches when they did come through. A few Bonita have been around with several caught one morning.
Drum and Flounder have been the mainstay for the week. The Red Drum bite has been phenomenal. Most were caught from just outside the surf to just past the first Tee. Small live Alewives or Sand Fleas were the hot bait. A majority of the Reds were within the slot. Nate caught a heartbreaker that barely exceeded the slot. It measured 27.5 inches so he released it. Paul, Steve, Kenny, Mikel, several other anglers and I managed to put Reds in the coolers over the week. Yesterday and today, the schools of Reds had moved on but it was fun while it lasted.
Flounder are around but the catch count has been low. Only a few fish a day were caught. Bull minnows were the best bet to get a bite. Von, Rowell and Paul were a few of the anglers that put Flatties in coolers.
A couple of Black Drum were decked for the week. A visiting angler decked a “Big Ugly” earlier in the week but had returned it to the water before I could get a photo. Yesterday, Paul commented he sure would like a Black Drum for dinner. I put him a fresh Sand Flea on his rod and dropped it to the bottom. Within a few minutes the rod tip bowed and the fight was on. Paul got his wish with a perfect size Drum.
Surprises happen all the time and Saturday angler Allen H. got just that. He hooked and decked a 28 inch Gag Grouper. Who says you have to go offshore to catch Grouper.
Several Manatee were spotted during the week as they traveled south for the winter. I was lucky enough to get a short video of one of them Sunday.
Water temperature: 68-71
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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 | 25 | 7:24 am | ENE | 7.0 | 11.1 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 62.4 | 69.3 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 25 | 7:18 am | NE | 8.0 | 9.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 62.6 | 69.3 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 25 | 7:12 am | ENE | 8.0 | 15.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.16 | - | 63.1 | 69.3 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 25 | 7:06 am | E | 12.0 | 15.9 | - | - | - | - | 30.15 | - | 65.1 | 69.3 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 25 | 7:00 am | E | 11.1 | 14.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.15 | +0.00 | 64.8 | 69.3 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 25 | 6:54 am | E | 11.1 | 13.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.15 | - | 64.4 | 69.4 |
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https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-city
Full Moon Monday Nov. 30, 2020 New Moon Monday Dec. 14, 2020
Tides for the week:
Sunrise: 6:18am Sunset: 4:43pm
Thursday 26th. 5:06am Low 0.3 7:42pm High 1.1
Friday 5:16am Low 0.1 7:39pm High 1.3
Saturday 5:39am Low 0.0 7:43pm High 1.4
Sunday 6:16am Low -0.1 8:05pm High 1.5
Monday 7:00am Low -0.2 8:37pm High 1.5
Tuesday 7:47am Low -0.3 9:16pm High 1.5
Wednesday 02nd. 8:32am Low -0.4 9:59pm High 1.5
Sunrise:6:23am Sunset: 4:42pm
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Dominant period 3 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
Light and variable winds. Seas 1
foot or less. Dominant period 3 seconds. Protected waters smooth.
Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Protected waters mostly smooth. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
SUNDAY
Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Protected waters a light chop. Showers likely and slight chance
of thunderstorms.
SUNDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15
knots early in the morning. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters
a moderate chop. Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms.
MONDAY
West winds 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected
waters a moderate chop. Chance of showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms.
(local forecast)
THURSDAY (77/67 rain 40% wind SSW-07)
FRIRDAY (76/66 rain 40% wind SW-04)
SATURDAY (74/61 rain 50% wind NNE-05)
SUNDAY (71/49 rain 80% wind SE-14)
MONDAY (57/37 rain 20% wind NW-17)
TUESDAY (53/39 rain 0% wind NW-14)
WEDNESDAY(60/45 rain 20% wind WNW-13)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Travis Barbee – Bay County Parks Division Manager – tbarbee@baycountyfl.gov – 850-381-8155
Tabitha Kimball – Bay County Beach Operations Manager - tkimball@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6078
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
