Another week of clean water with water temperatures dropping from a high of 82.4 Thursday afternoon to a low of 77.2 Wednesday morning. Bait fish were schooled near the pier consisting of: Cigar Minnows, Threadfin Herring and Alewives. Species of fish caught were King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Hardtails and Blacktip Shark. We had several schools of Tarpon pass the pier with a couple of short hook-ups. None were brought in. We are still waiting for that first legal Cobia to be weighed in. Today, a big school of Jack Crevalle were churning the water west of the pier outside of casting distance, but we didn’t have a shot at hooking one.
The King Mackerel bite was best Thursday when several were caught. Norry decked a 22.28-pound fish and lost another about the same size. Friday, Monday and Tuesday, one King was hooked each day with “Flipper taking two of them.
Spanish Mackerel were caught every day this report period. The bite was not hot but good numbers of fish up to five pounds were put on the deck. Bait and lures got their attention. Johnny landed the largest one I saw for the week.
Other action included lots of Hardtails, Ladyfish and Bluefish. Some anglers loaded their coolers with big numbers. Heavy Sabiki rigs performed best but Gotchas and Bubble Rigs got their fair share too. The action was best in the afternoons.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 80.1 – 82.4 Several King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Hardtails, Ladyfish, Cigar Minnows and Alewives.
Friday: water temp 80.8 79.7 One small King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish, Hardtails, Cigar Minnows and Alewives.
Saturday: water temp 78.3 – 80.1 Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails and Cigar Minnows.
Sunday: water temp 78.8 – 79.2 A few Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails and Cigar Minnows.
Monday: water temp 78.3 – 77.0 – 77.5 One King Mackerel hooked and lost to “Flipper”, a few Spanish Mackerel, Hardtails, Cigar Minnows and Alewives.
Tuesday: water temp. 76.6 – 78.3 One King Mackerel hooked in am, and lost to “Flipper”, a few Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Hardtails, Cigar Minnows and Alewives. ”Flipper was a pest eating bait all afternoon. Seven Frigate birds were hovering low over the pier and diving on our bait.
Wednesday: water temp 77.2 – 79.5 One King Mackerel hooked for about 5 seconds in pm, a few Spanish Mackerel, a couple of Bluefish, Ladyfish, small Blacktip Sharks- at least 6 were caught, Threadfin Herring and Alewives.
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 Tuesday May 07, 2024 Full Moon Thursday May 23, 2024
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 5:47am Sunset: 7:30pm
Thursday 16th. 1:44am Low 0.2 3:21pm High 1.0
Friday 1:29am Low 0.4 9:25am High 0.8
Saturday 1:06am Low 0.5 8:34am High 1.0
5:44pm Low 0.5
Sunday 5:49pm Low 0.1 8:24am High 1.1
Monday 6:21pm Low 0.1 8:14am High 1.3
Tuesday 7:04pm Low 0.0 8:19am High 1.5
Wednesday 22nd. 7:54pm Low-0.2 8:45pm High 1.6
Sunrise: 5:44am Sunset: 7:34pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: South 3 feet at 7 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: South 2 feet at 7 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: South 3 feet at 4 seconds and south 2 feet at 7 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers, mainly in the morning.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: South 4 feet at 7 seconds and south 3 feet at 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. A slight chance of showers in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight.
SATURDAY
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: South 4 feet at 7 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers likely, mainly in the evening.
SUNDAY
West winds around 10 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the morning.
SUNDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a light chop.
MONDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a light chop.
MONDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a light chop.
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (83/72 rain 06% wind SW-09)
FRIDAY (82/74 rain 50% wind SSE-16)
SATURDAY (78/71 rain 91% wind SSW-13)
SUNDAY (84/71 rain 24% wind W-11)
MONDAY (85/72 rain 07% wind W-10)
TUESDAY (84/74 rain 06% wind SSE-11)
WEDNESDAY(84/75 rain 06% wind SSW-12)
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
