This week was slower than last but Squid arrived over the weekend and helped salvage our catch score. Sunday evening was the best numbers this year with most anglers getting several dozen each. They started gathering off the end of the pier late afternoon and moved into the shallows after sunset.
Small Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish were scattered throughout the week with catches on Gotchas and big Sabiki rigs. Most were small but a few keepers came over the rail.
Black and Red Drum have been prowling near and under the pier from the shallows out past the second sand bar. Ghost Shrimp or fresh Squid worked well. A couple were caught on regular Shrimp. Big Bulls took several of us to school via the pilings. I had a monster “Big Ugly” show me who was boss. I never moved him off the bottom before pulling the hook. Most catches were over slot but a couple of keeper fish made their way into coolers. (see: Sam-8893a, 8918; Paul-8894)
Excitement is building among Cobia anglers as the number of eyes searching the water are increasing daily. New regulations for minimum size go into effect March 25th increasing the length to a minimum 36 inch fork length.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/bulletins/27d8710?fbclid=IwAR15LxcGICE1kJlt5EpjYggI9YffDiUkhGCBsswGR6UiDGog-dyteYXpurE
Species caught: Red/Black Drum, Squid, Spanish Mackerel and Blues. Bait: Bring your own.
Water temperature: 63
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-city
Tides for the week: Full Moon Monday Mar. 09, 2020 – New Moon Tuesday Mar. 24, 2020 .
Sunrise: 6:10am Sunset: 5:40pm
Thursday 27th. 6:14am Low 0.2 12:28pm High 0.5
7:39pm Low 0.1 1:11pm High 0.5
Friday 5:26am Low 0.2 12:44pm High 0.6
Saturday 11:29pm Low -0.1 12:58pm High 0.8
Sunday 1:32pm High 0.9
Monday 2:09am Low -0.2 2:19pm High 1.0
Tuesday 2:55am Low -0.4 3:21pm High 1.1
Wednesday 04th. 3:38am Low -0.5 4:39pm High 1.2
Sunrise:6:04am Sunset: 5:44pm
The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
TONIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet with
occasional seas up to 9 feet. Dominant period 6 seconds.
Protected waters choppy.
THURSDAY
Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet with
occasional seas up to 8 feet. Dominant period 5 seconds.
Protected waters a moderate chop.
THURSDAY NIGHT
North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Dominant period 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY
West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Dominant
period 4 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet
with occasional seas up to 8 feet. Dominant period 5 seconds.
Protected waters choppy.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with
occasional seas up to 6 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop.
SATURDAY NIGHT
North winds 10 knots becoming northeast
5 to 10 knots early in the morning. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected
waters a light chop.
SUNDAY
Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 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.
(local forecast)
THURSDAY (56/39 rain 0% wind NNW-12)
FRIRDAY (60/47 rain 0% wind W-15)
SATURDAY (64/47 rain 0% wind WNW-10)
SUNDAY (65/57 rain 0% wind SE-11)
MONDAY (68/62 rain 10% wind SSE-16)
TUESDAY (72/66 rain 40% wind SSE-18)
WEDNESDAY(71/59 rain 50% wind SSW-16)
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam
