The water was clean for a majority of the report period. The water temperature ranged from 63.1 to 67.8 degrees. We had a few Cigar Minnows early mornings for a couple of days. Ballyhoo were schooling in the shallows Thursday. Species caught were: Spanish Mackerel, Sheepshead, Red Drum, Atlantic Kingfish (Whiting), Pompano, File fish, a few Cigar Minnows and Squid.
Activity was about average with the Shallows producing a few Red Drum. Squid were caught during the daytime but in low numbers. However, after dark and during the night they were thick. If you had light, you could almost name your amount. Squid of all sizes were carried off the pier by bucket full. Sheepshead were everywhere covering the pilings from the end Tee to the shallows. Apparently, they were in spawn mode and for the most part, ignored anything we offered. We tried live Shrimp, Fiddler Crabs, Ghost Shrimp and Sand Fleas to no avail. There were three caught but that was collectively from all anglers for the week.
The surprise for the period came Tuesday afternoon when a school of Pompano moved in around the pilings just inside of the outer sandbar. The bite was active for about an hour and close to 20 fish were decked. Three others had been caught in the shallows that morning.
Tuesday also brought an unusual catch. Josh, from Ontario, was fishing with his family when he caught something he had no idea what it was. It was one of the biggest Filefish I have ever seen.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 64.6 – 66.2 Two Sheepshead, a few small Spanish Mackerel, Sting Rays and lots of Squid (all sizes), Ballyhoo in shallows.
Friday: water temp 66.2 – 67.8 Three big Red Drum late afternoon, a few Squid, a few Bonita moved through but no eaters, strong wind.
Saturday: water temp 66.6 – 67.1 A Pompano.
Sunday: water temp 65.7 – 65.7 Spanish Mackerel.
Monday: water temp 63.7 – 64.6 Lots of small Spanish Mackerel, a few Squid, one Sheepshead, they were thick but wouldn’t bite.
Tuesday: water temp 63.1 – 65.7 18 to 20 Pompano, 1 Sheepshead, 2 Atlantic Kingfish (Whiting), 2 small Bluefish, and a few Spanish Mackerel. Squid before daylight.
Wednesday: water temp 64.6 – 65.5 A few small Spanish Mackerel and a large File fish. Squid before daylight.
Red Tide status: In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Sunday Mar. 10, 2024 Full Moon Monday Mar. 25, 2024
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:52am Sunset: 6:50pm
Thursday 14th. 12:50pm High 1.2
Friday 12:41am Low -0.4 1:36pm High 1.3
Saturday 2:12am Low -0.5 2:30pm High 1.3
Sunday 3:22am Low -0.5 3:37pm High 1.3
Monday 4:18am Low -0.5 5.23pm High 1.2
Tuesday 5:04am Low -0.3 7:03pm High 1.2
Wednesday 20th. 5:41am Low -0.3 8:09pm High 1.1
Sunrise: 6:45am Sunset: 6:54pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 3 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. Patchy dense fog in the morning.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY
Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers after midnight.
SATURDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning. A slight chance of showers.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds around 10 knots, becoming west after midnight. Seas around 2 feet with a dominant period of 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period of 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms, mainly in the morning.
MONDAY NIGHT
North winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Protected waters choppy.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (73/65 rain 12% wind SE-12)
FRIDAY (75/65 rain 24% wind SSE-12)
SATURDAY (76/62 rain 24% wind W-11)
SUNDAY (73/58 rain 68% wind WNW-09)
MONDAY (70/45 rain 24% wind NNW-12)
TUESDAY (63/50 rain 00% wind N-10)
WEDNESDAY(68/54 rain 13% wind SE-08)
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
