BCO Tournament Update and Smoker Kings

2021/05/08

It is not too late to register. It’s FREE so don’t miss your chance to win!

BAY COUNTY OUTDOORS in cooperation with Bay County Recreation is promoting a Cobia Pier Tournament. The Registration is FREE and the registration form is on BCO web page. It is simple to register and only requires your Name and Email. Entry began 04-09-2021 and the close of the Tournament will be May 22nd. at 5:00 p.m. Here is a link:

https://www.baycountyoutdoors.com/tournament

Tournament prizes will be from additional sponsors: Rapala; Suffix; VMC; DOA and Grudens. There will be three places:

1st: $500.00 equivilent of tackle

2nd: $350.00 equivilent of tackle

3rd: $150.00 equivilent of tackle

I will be the Tournament Official to Weigh and record all entries. If I am not on the pier, you can call me at 770-267-2879. BCO said if you are lucky and have multiple fish, you can win in 1 or all 3 catagories. In case of a tie, the first fish weighed will take the lead in that catagory. The fish must be caught on the M.B. Miller Pier and all FWC laws and regulations must be followed.  

Tournament leaders changed again as well as more Cobia hit the deck by anglers not registered for the tournament. I have been putting out 2 down rods on the back side of the Tee for a while and have had several hits. On Thursday, both down rods got hit at once. The first fish had gone under the pier immediately and cut me off. The second one was a 27” dink that we netted and returned after a quick picture. Both fish ate an Alewife. Then, Friday morning Joe C. got a shot on a legal fish in the Pomp hole. It would have probably put him in third place but again not registered. Monday morning, Rob D. jacked a nice fish that would have definitely put him on the board if he had registered. Finally, Tuesday evening about 6:30 Kelley P. got hit on his down rod soaking an Alewife. It was his first pier Cobia and put him in second place. His fish was 25 pounds 7 ounces. Congratulations Kelly!

CURRENT STANDINGS TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD:

First place: Jacob H. 39 pounds 6 ounces

Second place: Kelly P. 25 pounds 7 ounces

Third place:  Jackson Z.  22 pounds 4 ounces

King Mackerel action kept the end Tee crowded most of the week.  May 3^rd and 4^th were the hot bite days as several fish were put on the deck. Fish size ranged from “scoolies” to “smokers”. Live and dead bait out performed lures. Monday saw the best action with numerous Kings being landed. Jesus, Brandon and George got nice Kings but Patrick and Norito decked the smokers at 32 pounds and 25 pounds respectively. Friday brought a couple more nice fish as a 30 pounder was decked by an angler that was so covered that I didn’t recognize him. Then mid afternoon I got lucky and decked a 22 pound 15 ounce fatty. I usually do not report action off the City Pier but if there is a notable catch I do. May 3^rd Brad W. was snobbling a dead cigar minnow and got “smoked” by a true “smoker” King. It tipped the scale at 46 pounds 2 ounces. Congrats on a fish of a lifetime from a pier!

In the mix with nice Kings, there were “axe handle” Spanish. They were hitting both natural bait and lures. There were many fish decked over the week but Marty was rewarded with the biggest that weighed 5 pounds 7 ounces.

Pompano continue to monopolize the skinny water. Get reservations for rail space as it has been crowded with set rods.

Hard tails are here and so are the anglers targeting them. Get ready to wear your helmet as you navigate your way towards the Tee. Huge numbers of fish hav been carted off the pier this week. A few Lady fish are here too.

Water temperature: 71-76

 https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin   g 

New Moon Tuesday May. 11, 2021  Full Moon Wednesday May 26, 2021  

Tides for the upcoming week:

Sunrise: 5:54am  Sunset: 7:25pm

Saturday                2:15am Low   0.6        9:36am High 1.0

                              5:15pm Low   0.4

Sunday                  6:14pm Low   0.3        9:37am High 1.2

Monday                  7:03pm Low   0.1        9:29am High 1.3

Tuesday                 7:50pm Low   0.0        9:30am High 1.4 NEW MOON

Wednesday 12^th.    8:38pm Low  -0.1        9:53am High 1.5

Sunrise:5:50am  Sunset: 7:29pm CDST 

The Marine forecast for the next several days is: 

SATURDAY

Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected

waters a light chop.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

Protected waters a light chop.

SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT

South winds 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.

Protected waters a moderate chop.

MONDAY

Southwest winds 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Protected

waters a moderate chop. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.

local forecast)

THURSDAY (81/60 rain  16% wind   NW-12)

FRIDAY   (79/56 rain  01% wind  NNW-13)

SATURDAY (76/64 rain  01% wind  SSE-10)

SUNDAY   (79/71 rain  04% wind  SSE-14)

MONDAY   (78/71 rain  64% wind  SSW-13)

TUESDAY  (81/70 rain  33% wind   SW-09)

WEDNESDAY(78/67 rain  37% wind    S-11)

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

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