Cobia Fever Increasing

2020/03/05

March is finally here and we are hopeful that warmer air and water will bring more fish. Cobia season is on us and it is noticeable as the “fever” has hit that group of anglers. Rail space is slowly giving way to more anglers hoping to get that “first shot”. There has been a couple of reports of sightings but no hook-ups yet. Note changes to regulations effective Mar. 25^th.

https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/cobia/ 

Our water seems to be mostly bay water and that will probably continue for a while given all the heavy rains both north of us and locally. We have no baitfish schools yet to attract anything but at least the Squid are here. As a result, a few Spanish Mackerel are being caught using Gotchas and Sabiki rigs.

For the rest of us anglers, the catch remains slim. Southern Kingfish have been our mainstay most of the week. Several anglers have coolered as many as 15 in their day of fishing. They have been caught anywhere from the first Tee all the way out to the end of the pier and mainly on the Eastside. Sand Flea flavored “Fish Bites”, fresh Squid and Shrimp have been the baits of choice. Even though this species is small, they make good table fare as Paul and Gordon can testify.

https://myfwc.com/media/19236/kingfishes-18.pdf

Other action included a few Red Drum. Several fish were hooked during the week but most were lost in the pilings or by a pulled hook. Fresh Squid and cut bait seemed to be good bait choices as Butch found out when he tested his equipment on one.

Species caught: Red Drum, Squid, Spanish Mackerel and Blues. Bait: Still no baitfish. 

Water temperature: 63-64

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: 6:03am  Sunset: 5:45pm

Thursday 05^th.      4:20am Low   -0.6       6:03pm High 1.3

Friday                   5:02am Low   -0.6       7:18pm High 1.3

Saturday               5:44pm Low   -0.6       9:29pm High 1.3

Sunday                 7:22am Low   -0.5     10:42pm High 1.2    Daylight savings time begins.

Monday                7:53am Low   -0.3      11:57pm High 1.0 

Tuesday               7:59am Low    0.0        1:36pm High .03

                              4:47pm Low    0.2

Wednesday 11^th.   7:38am Low    0.3        1:14am High 0.8

                               7:10pm Low    0.1        1:24pm High 0.5

                               Sunrise:6:56am  Sunset: 6:49pm 

The Marine forecast for the next several days is: 

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT

TODAY

Southwest winds 15 knots increasing to 20 to 25 knots

becoming west late. Seas building to 5 to 7 feet with occasional

seas up to 9 feet. Dominant period 7 seconds. Protected waters

rough. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some storms may be

severe.

TONIGHT

North winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 8 feet with

occasional seas up to 10 feet. Dominant period 7 seconds.

Protected waters rough.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT

North winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 5 to

7 feet with occasional seas up to 9 feet. Dominant period 6

seconds. Protected waters rough.

SATURDAY

Northeast winds 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with

occasional seas up to 6 feet. Dominant period 4 seconds.

Protected waters a moderate chop.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY

East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to

5 feet. Protected waters choppy.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet

with occasional seas up to 6 feet. Protected waters choppy.

MONDAY

Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with

occasional seas up to 6 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop.

I

 (local forecast)

THURSDAY (71/50 rain  40% wind WSW-18)

FRIRDAY  (66/41 rain  10% wind NNW-16)

SATURDAY (62/46 rain   0% wind  NE-13)

SUNDAY   (65/54 rain   0% wind ESE-12)

MONDAY   (70/59 rain  10% wind  SE-15)

TUESDAY  (70/60 rain  50% wind SSE-08)

WEDNESDAY(73/63 rain  20% wind   S-09)

Tight lines and screaming drags

Sam

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