We enjoyed good water quality the entire seven days. The water is warm, hovering in the low 80’s a majority of the period. Bait fish have been plentiful. Species caught were: King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Hardtails Bonita and Shark. Baits were: Cigar minnows and Alewives. A few tarpon schools passed by, but none caught. One Sailfish was spotted Tuesday afternoon, but it didn’t eat.
Thursday through Monday were slow except for Hardtails. There were a few Spanish Mackerel and Bonita. Friday brought one small King Mackerel caught on a bubble rig. Danny fell victim to the tax man with a Bonita he hooked Friday. There was another King hooked on Saturday morning but the tax man, “Flipper” took it. Saturday also brought rain, lightning and thunder which kept most anglers off the pier.
Tuesday and today made up for the slow beginning. Tuesday we had 10 King Mackerel hooked with seven of them being landed. Most were small but Blasito now holds the 2024 record for the biggest King for the Year. He and I were fishing side by side on the west corner of the Tee. He casted a live Cigar minnow and within 15 seconds, there was a huge boil then his line began to peel off the spool. The fish fought hard and took Blasito to the East corner and then under the pier. Fortunately he was able to pull the fish back to the waiting gaff. Hai made a great stick with the gaff and Blasito’s 31.75-pound King hit the deck. The top three fish so far this year are Blasito’s 31.75, Allen’s 30 and Jose’s 29.14. Congratulations Blasito on your “smoker”.
Today was the best day this year for King Mackerel. I lost count after over 20 fish hit the deck. As I was leaving about 6:00pm, there were three more Kings hooked with plenty of daylight for more. There were two fish lost to “Flipper” early morning, but he left and didn’t come back. Even though most of the fish were small, there were a few decent ones in the catch. Quang and Kim shared catching one of the bigger ones. Shane landed a 16-pounder and Austin’s fish was 12.8-pounds. Three young anglers checked King Mackerel off their bucket list as they caught their first King. Davis got his late Tuesday evening. David and Connor caught theirs today. Conner’s fish was special as he caught it with a new Rod and Reel he bought just before coming to the pier. That’s a great way to break in new equipment. Natural bait out-performed lures today. Here are pictures of some of the Kings that were landed today:
Here are the three young anglers with their first Kings:
As you can see listed in the daily activity, there were a few Spanish Mackerel caught. Here’s one Heath put on the deck today that ate a Cidar minnow.
Daily activity:
Thursday: water temp 81.7 – 81.9 Hardtails. Cigar Minnows and Alewives
Friday: water temp 81.5 – 83.3 One small King on a bubble rig, 3 Bonita hooked, 2 decked and Flipper got the other, Lots of Hardtails, Cigar Minnows and Alewives.
Saturday: water temp 81.5 – 79.9 – 80.8 One small King hooked but lost early am. “Flipper” still a problem. Lightning, thunder, and rain.
Sunday: water temp 80.2 – 82.8 A couple of Bonita, a few Spanish and hardtails. Cigar minnows and Alewives.
Monday: water temp 81.5 – 83.8 A few Spanish and hardtails. Cigar minnows and Alewives.
Tuesday: water temp. 81.7 – 84.2 Ten King Mackerel hooked, one lost to Flipper, one line bite off, one lost at gaff and 7 decked. Blasito got a “smoker” 31.75# and the rest were dinks, a few Spanish Mackerel, lots of Hardtails, a couple of Bluefish. Cigar minnows and Alewives.
Wednesday: water temp 82.8 – 84.7 Lots of small Kings, over two dozen when I left at 6:00pm there were three hooked, a few Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Hardtails. Cigar minnows 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
Full Moon Thursday May 23, 2024 - New Moon Thursday June 06, 2024
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 5:44am Sunset: 7:35pm
Thursday 06th. ??8:46pm Low -0.3 9:22am High 1.7
Friday 9:38pm Low -0.3 10:07am High 1.8
Saturday 10:27pm Low -0.4 10:57am High 1.8
Sunday 11:13pm Low -0.4 11:48am High 1.9
Monday 11:55pm Low -0.4 12:38pm High 1.9
Tuesday 1:24pm High 1.8
Wednesday 12th. 12:31am Low -0.2 2:09pm High 1.6
Sunrise: 5:42am Sunset: 7:38pm CDST
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
THURSDAY
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 1 foot at 2 seconds and south 1 foot at 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY
West winds around 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY NIGHT
West winds 10 to 15 knots, diminishing to 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: West 2 feet at 4 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Wave Detail: West 1 foot at 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning.
SATURDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
West winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
MONDAY
West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
MONDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 fe
(local forecast).
THURSDAY (84/76 rain 43% wind SW-14)
FRIDAY (88/72 rain 15% wind WNW-12)
SATURDAY (89/75 rain 03% wind WNW-09)
SUNDAY (88/78 rain 11% wind WSW-13)
MONDAY (86/76 rain 20% wind WSW-12)
TUESDAY (86/76 rain 35% wind SSW-10)
WEDNESDAY(85/76 rain 58% wind S-13)
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
