The water clarity has been mixed but clean more than dirty. The water temperature fluctuated between 69 and 71.7 degrees. The pier was crowded again this week. Kings were scarce and only one hit the deck. Spanish and Pompano were plentiful. A few Jack Crevelle. Black and Red Drum were caught Bait was mostly missing but some Ballyhoo, Threadfin Herring and Cigar minnows were around. Three Cobia hit the deck but only one of the anglers had registered for the tournament.
We are 13 days into the BCO Cobia Tournament and the leader board finally has a name. The first Cobia of the year was hooked back on 03-11-22 but wasn’t landed. We would endure a dry month before another fish was hooked. Monday, 04-11-22, Mike W. would hook and then deck a 37 ppound Cobia. It would be the first one landed off the M. B. Miller pier for the year. However, Mike was not registered for the tournament (he is now) and the leader board remained empty. Today, 04-13-22, Tyler hooked a fish that we were not sure met the size requirement. To be safe and keep the fish healthy, we decided to net the fish. As it turned out, it would measure just shy of 34 inches, 13.30pounds and would put Tyler on the leader board currently holding 1st and 2nd place. Later in the day, August R. got a shot on a nice fish. He whipped it in short order and decked the fish at 3:45pm. However, he had not registered for the tournament either. A couple other fish were spotted but not hooked. Things are looking better for the Cobia anglers.


It was a very disappointing week for King Mackerel. Only one fish hit the deck that was about 14 pounds. Anglers tried everything to coaxe a bite but just could not get the fish to cooperate.
Spanish Mackerel have been hitting the deck every day. Getting your limit in a short amount of time was no problem. However, rail space was another story. Gotchas, bubble rigs and spoons were the ticket.
The Pompano bite was insane. Fish were coming over the rail in mass. I walked through the skinny water area of the pier and counted 20 recently caught fish on the deck. Many anglers got their limit every time they fished. Sight casting with jigs worked as well as on set rigs with Sand Fleas.


Other action included Jack Crevelle, Sharks, Red Drum, and Black Drum. Dillon, Casey and Blaze hold Black Drum they caught Sunday.

The 2022 Bay County Outdoors Cobia Tournament registration page is live. Registration is FREE and only requires your name, email and a contact phone number. You can enter anytime before May 13th at 6:00pm but must be pre-registered to enter a fish. Here is the link: www.baycountyoutdoors.com/22cobiatournament Once you complete the form, hit "enter now". You will see a message in RED at the bottom indicating you are entered.
The tournament began at 6:00am April 01, 2022, and ends on May 13, 2022, at 6:00pm. You can view the list of participants on my FB page by using this URL: https://www.facebook.com/sam.patrick.315/posts/10220687154753943
As of 4-13-22 at 8:00pm we had 75 anglers registered.
GOOD LUCK!
Tides Link
https://tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/panama-cityngin g
New Moon Saturday Apr. 16, 2022 Full Moon Saturday Apr. 30, 2022
Tides for the upcoming week:
Sunrise: 6:16am Sunset: 7:10pm
Friday 4:38am Low 0.5 10:45am High 0.8
5:29pm Low 0.3
Saturday 3:35am Low 0.7 12:41am High 0.7
6:48pm Low 0.1 10:12pm High 1.0
Sunday 8:09pm Low -0.1 10:14am High 1.2
Monday 9:34pm Low -0.3 10:46am High 1.4
Tuesday 10:55pm Low -0.4 11:31am High 1.6
Wednesday 20th. 12:22pm High 1.7
Sunrise:6:09am Sunset: 7:13pm CDST
Water temp 71 degrees.
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MM | DD | TIME (EDT) | 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 |
04 | 13 | 7:54 pm | SE | 18.1 | 21.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.96 | - | 70.3 | 71.4 | - | - | - | - |
04 | 13 | 7:48 pm | SE | 18.1 | 21.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.96 | - | 70.3 | 71.4 | - | - | - | - |
04 | 13 | 7:42 pm | SE | 19.0 | 22.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.97 | - | 70.3 | 71.4 | - | - | - | - |
04 | 13 | 7:36 pm | SE | 18.1 | 22.0 | - | - | - | - | 29.97 | - | 70.3 | 71.4 |
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The Marine forecast for the next several days is:
FRIDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Dominant period 6 seconds. Protected waters a moderate chop.
Slight chance of showers in the morning.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Dominant period 6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop.
SATURDAY
Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 2 feet. Dominant
period 6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. Slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast
early in the morning. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Dominant period
6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. Slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
SUNDAY
Southeast winds 10 knots becoming south 10 to
15 knots late in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Dominant period
6 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. Slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
SUNDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Dominant period 5 seconds. Protected waters a light chop. Slight
chance of showers through the night.
MONDAY
South winds 15 knots becoming west in the
afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a moderate chop.
Chance of showers.
(local forecast).
FRIDAY (79/66 rain 15% wind ESE-11)
SATURDAY (77/67 rain 35% wind S-08)
SUNDAY (75/66 rain 57% wind SSE-10)
MONDAY (78/58 rain 61% wind NW-10)
TUESDAY (76/56 rain 07% wind NNE-13)
WEDNESDAY(76/62 rain 03% wind ESE-13)
PIER MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bay County Parks and Recreation – 5304 Majetti Tower Road Panama City, FL 32404
850-248-8730
Travis Barbee – Bay Co. Parks Division Manager – tbarbee@baycountyfl.gov – 850-381-8155
Vince Martin – Bay Co. Beach Operations Manager - vmartin@baycountyfl.gov - 850-896-6580
Tight lines and screaming drags,
Sam