The water quality was variable with both silty and clean conditions. The water temperature has remained at 65 degrees or below. Bait is still around but mostly small Cigar minnows and Alewives. Flounder and Red Drum were the most caught species with a few Bluefish in the mix.
There was also one Skip Jack caught by DennisV on the 9th. Three Sheepshead were caught Monday by John and Johnny and Johnny caught another one Tuesday. No Kings or Spanish were caught on the County but there was a King caught by John S. on the 9th, off the City Pier.
Lots of Flounder were caught mostly in the early mornings. However, most of them were undersize and had to be released. Small Cigar minnows fished on a “Carolina Rig” got the best action. Bull minnows fished the same way caught them too. The best bite was off the end Tee.
Red Drum were active in shallow water. Live Cigar minnows were the most productive with a few caught on live Shrimp. The same “Carolina Rig” worked for the reds. Here is a few of the fish that Casey, Heath, Sam, Hector and Chuck caught:
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 63.0 – 64.2 One Sheepshead, two Red Drum, Flounder and Cigar minnows.
Friday: water temp 63.1 – 63.3 Red Drum, Flounder, bluefish, and Cigar minnows.
Saturday: water temp 62.4 – 65.7 Red Drum, Flounder, Bluefish, (one King on City Pier)
Sunday: water temp 65.1 – 65.5 Red Drum, Flounder, Cigar minnows
Monday: water temp 61.0 – 63.5 Three Sheepshead, Flounder, one Whiting, Cigar minnows.
Tuesday: water temp 62.2 One Sheepshead, 5 keeper Flounder plus 15 or so too short, small Cigar minnows and Alewives. (New Moon)
Wednesday: water temp 62.4 – 61.7 Flounder but few keepers, one 18” Red Drum, Cigar minnows.
Red Tide status: The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Tuesday Dec. 12, 2023 Full Moon Tuesday Dec. 26, 2023
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:30am Sunset: 4:43pm
Thursday 14th. 8:49am Low -0:8 10:05pm High 1.7
Friday 9:36am Low -0.8 10:58pm High 1.6
Saturday 10:17am Low -0.7 11:46pm High 1.6
Sunday 10:50am Low -0.6
Monday 11:07am Low -0.3 12:28am High 1.2
Tuesday 11:00am Low 0.0 12:59am High 0.9
10:51pm Low 0.5 7:45pm High 0.5
Wednesday 20th. 10:11am Low 0.2 6:11pm High 0.7
Sunrise: 6:34am Sunset: 4:46pm CST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters very rough.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 35 knots.. Seas 6 to 9 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters very rough.
FRIDAY
Northeast winds 25 to 30 knots, becoming east 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Gusts up to 35 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters very rough.
FRIDAY NIGHT
East winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters rough. A slight chance of showers.
SATURDAY
East winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Seas 7 to 10 feet with a dominant period of 8 seconds. Protected waters very rough. Isolated thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 25 to 30 knots, becoming north after midnight. Gusts up to 35 knots. Seas 9 to 12 feet with a dominant period of 10 seconds. Protected waters very rough. Showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
SUNDAY
Northwest winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. Seas 8 to 11 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters very rough. Showers likely with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 25 to 30 knots, diminishing to 20 to 25 knots after midnight. Seas 7 to 10 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters very rough. A chance of showers.
MONDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 8 feet with a dominant period of 7 seconds. Protected waters rough.
MONDAY NIGHT
North winds around 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Protected waters choppy.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (66/49 rain 00% wind NE-16)
FRIDAY (67/56 rain 02% wind ENE-16)
SATURDAY (64/57 rain 75% wind ENE-15)
SUNDAY (64/48 rain 47% wind NW-20)
MONDAY (63/45 rain 04% wind NW-16)
TUESDAY (61/42 rain 03% wind N-12)
WEDNESDAY(60/42 rain 04% wind NE-09)
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
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
