We continue to have good water conditions. Water temps are hovering in the low to mid 60’s. Bait has disappeared. No Kings but small Spanish Mackerel continue to hang around in schools. Red and Black Drum, Sheepshead and a few Flounder are being caught primarily on Ghost Shrimp. A few Flounder were caught on Bull Minnows and small schools of Bonita are feeding on Glass Minnows. Pompano numbers have increased all week.
Thursday was the best day of the week. A mixed bag of fish were caught on Ghost Shrimp and live Shrimp from the outer sand bar to the Tee. Paul had a battle to the end with a massive Black Drum. I was not sure if the Drum was going to pull Paul over the rail or if Paul could subdue the Drum. As it turned out, Paul held his ground and brought the 25 pound 2 ounce Drum on deck. He got a quick picture then released the “Big Ugly” to fight another time. Later, Paul, Mark and Tommy brought nice Sheepshead to the net. Tommy dropped bait near the pilings off the Tee and brought up a juvenile Gag Grouper. Another angler managed 2 more Gags from the same piling.
Friday the bite was still there but much slower and moved to shallower water. A few Pompano and a lonely Red were caught. I managed 4 legal Pompano and Brenda put one in her cooler. Guy put several in his cooler too. Just as the sun set, Paul tangled with a Red Drum that was just over-slot and had to be returned.
Saturday was thick with small Spanish Mackerel. Large schools of fish were passing the pier most of the day. Good numbers of fish made their way into coolers and even more had to be returned as they fell below the 12 inch minimum size. Brenda got her limit early.
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Monday and Tuesday brought increased numbers of Pompano to the skinny water. Fish Bites, Ghost Shrimp, Sand Fleas and Shrimp got bit. Steve out fished most of us and put 4 nice fish in his cooler Monday and his limit of 6 on Tuesday.
Wednesday ushered in much cooler air, wind and rain with very few anglers braving the elements. The forecast indicated similar conditions until the weekend.
Species caught: Bonita, Spanish Mackerel, Red/Black Drum, Sheepshead, Flounder, Bluefish, Grouper and Pompano. Bait: Bring your own.
Water temperature: 62-63
MM | DD | TIME
(EST) | WDIR | WSPD
kts | GST
kts | WVHT
ft | DPD
sec | APD
sec | MWD | PRES
in | PTDY
in | ATMP
°F | WTMP
°F | DEWP
°F | SAL
psu | VIS
nmi | TIDE
ft |
12 | 11 | 7:24 pm | NNE | 14.0 | 20.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.36 | - | 51.1 | 63.0 | - | - | - | - |
12 | 11 | 7:18 pm | NNE | 14.0 | 21.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.37 | - | 50.9 | 63.0 | - | - | - | - |
12 | 11 | 7:12 pm | NNE | 12.0 | 19.0 | - | - | - | - | 30.37 | - | 50.7 | 63.0 | - | - | - | - |
12 | 11 | 7:06 pm | NNE | 13.0 | 18.1 | - | - | - | - | 30.36 | - | 50.7 | 63.0 | - | - | - | - |
12 | 11 | 7:00 pm | NNE | 12.0 | 18.1 | - | - | - | - | 30.37 | +0.01 | 50.5 | 63.0 | - | - | - | - |
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-city
Tides for the week: Full Moon Wednesday Dec. 11th - New Moon Wednesday Dec. 25th.
Sunrise: 6:30am Sunset: 4:44pm
Thursday 12th. 7:27am Low -0.5 8:58pm High 1.5
Friday 8:14am Low -0.6 9:44pm High 1.5
Saturday 8:59am Low -0.6 10:30pm High 1.5
Sunday 9:40am Low -0.6 11:17pm High 1.4
Monday 10:16am Low -0.5
Tuesday 10:45am Low -0.4 12:00am High 1.3
Wednesday 11th. 11:03am Low -0.2 12:36am High 1.0 Sunrise:6:33am Sunset: 4:46pm
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
THURSDAY
East winds 20 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet with
occasional seas up to 9 feet. Dominant period 5 seconds.
Protected waters choppy. Slight chance of showers in the
morning. Chance of showers in the afternoon.
THURSDAY NIGHT
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet
with occasional seas up to 8 feet. Dominant period 5 seconds.
Protected waters choppy. Chance of showers in the evening,
then showers and isolated thunderstorms after midnight.
FRIDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with
occasional seas up to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Dominant
period 4 seconds in the afternoon. Protected waters a moderate
chop. Rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Dominant period 5 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop. Rain
showers likely in the evening, then chance of showers after
midnight.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet.
Protected waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers
in the morning.
SATURDAY NIGHT
North winds 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Protected waters a light chop.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Protected waters a light chop.
MONDAY
Southeast winds 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Protected waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers
in the morning, then chance of showers in the afternoon.
(local forecast)
THURSDAY (56/51 rain 40% wind ENE-13)
FRIRDAY (65/57 rain 80% wind E-10)
SATURDAY (66/53 rain 20% wind WNW-12)
SUNDAY (69/59 rain 10% wind SE-09)
MONDAY (73/58 rain 20% wind SSE-13)
TUESDAY (63/39 rain 60% wind NNW-09)
WEDNESDAY(54/37 rain 0% wind N-14)
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
