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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
PANAMA CITY BEACH OFFSHORE AND INSHOREWell Grouper opened April 1st (all except Gag) and anglers from all over took advantage of it. There were plenty of Red grouper coming in from natural bottom type spots or around the outer edges of smaller wrecks. A few lucky rod jockeys picked up a Scamp or two but the lion's share was Red grouper. Still getting good reports on Amberjack in the hundred foot or more range, and you can still count on Trigger fish, Bee liners and White snapper to fill out the day. With every day that passes lately we are gaining about a degree per day in water temperature. We have even heard of a King or two being caught locally! Larger and larger schools of Spanish mackerel are coming through along the beach along with good numbers of Pompano. So if you haven't already, it is time to dust off the tackle box and gear up for spring… it's here!
Surf anglers are reporting better numbers of Spanish mackerel and Pompano, Blue fish and every now and then a silvery Redfish comes along (they lose some of their reddish color being out in the Gulf).
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEMThe Sheep head bite slowed a bit last week but you can still find them in their usual haunts (discussed last week and you can view it in the fishing report archives if you missed it). Spanish mackerel are really coming on strong in the pass area and along the channel heading towards the Port. If you catch the tide on the increase when the green water has pushed it's way into the bay you will find them. They don't seem to care for the tannin colored water that flows out on the outgoing tide. You will still find some but not near as much as you will on the incoming tide. Mangrove snapper, Redfish, Black drum and a some Flounder are getting caught in deeper waters around the channels and bridges. Speckled trout and smaller reds are starting to really work the grassy areas over when the sun gets up and the tide is on the increase. Look for any signs of bait to help you to find fish. You can also count on finding Trout and Reds following schools of Mullet. By the way I hear there are some juvenile Tarpon getting caught in cast nets and or on hook and line in with schools of Mullet. If you would like to help find out more about Tarpon we have some free DNA sampling kits available at the Thomas Drive location, its easy to do and will help us to learn a lot more about the life cycle and habits of this hard fighting sport fish. Research like this and the information it reveals is always good for our sport.
NAVARREI don’t think we could have asked for a better weekend than what we had last week and this week is shaping up for more of the same. With no real rain in the forecast until next Thursday this should give everyone an opportunity to get out and relax a little on the water.
Inshore sheepsheads are still one of the hottest bites, but trout and redfish are on fire as well. The sheepsheads are on most of the deep structure in the sound and bays. Live shrimp, fiddler crabs, and fresh oysters have been the go to bait. And for a change we have live shrimp and fiddlers available at the store. We also received a shipment of bull minnows this week if you are looking to target flounder that are starting to make a showing. Slot reds are on many of the deeper docks in the sound, the Navarre, and Bob Sikes Bridges. They can also be found mixed in with the schools of mullet that have invaded the flats the last couple of weeks, however don’t be surprised when your red turns in to a gator trout as it gets closer to the net. Suspending twitch baits such as YoZuri’s Crystal 3D Shrimp in gold and chartreuse, MirrOlures’ Catch 2000 and MirrOdine in the gold and black or light green and silver sides. Top water baits such as Rapala’s Skitter Walk, Bomber’s Badonk-A-Donk, MirrOlure’s Top Dog and Live Target’s Mullet should be producing during the late afternoon and early morning bite. With all that said the number one go to bait is still live shrimp, whether fished under a popping cork on the flats or with just a split shot around the deeper docks.
The cobia are defiantly here at the Navarre pier with any ware from seven to thirteen fished caught on Wednesday. Jigs and live eels have been the preferred baits. Spanish, sheepshead, bull reds, black drum, whiting and pompano are also available. The top bait for the Spanish this week has been Got-Cha lures with bubble rigs and Salt Slayer jigs not far behind. They have also been seeing a few kings around, but no one has landed any yet, but I expect that to change very shortly. Sheepshead are also available with most fish hitting live shrimp and fiddler crabs fished on the bottom near the pylons. On the beach Pompano, redfish and whiting have been the main targets with most falling for live sand fleas and live shrimp.
Cobia, king mackerel, snowy grouper, scamp grouper, yellow edge grouper, tile fish, amberjacks, triggerfish, mingo snapper, red porgy and sward and many more species are available right now on nearshore and offshore reefs and wrecks. Cobia fever has set in along the gulf coast with more and more landing and sightings every day. Most fish are in the 30 to 50 pound range and are inhaling almost any jig or live bait tossed their way. A few kings are also being landed on both inshore and off shore trips. Most heading south out of the pass are targeting jacks, flounder, triggerfish and red porgies on near shore reefs and wrecks. Large live baits are landing more keepers jacks these days than jigging. Scamp grouper, red grouper, trigger fish, red porgies and the occasional vermillion snapper are also on many of the near and off shore wrecks. A few boats made it out around the rigs this week with many reporting good numbers of blackfin tuna as well as small yellowfin. When not targeting tuna and wahoo, many are deep dropping for snowy and yellow edge grouper, tile fish and bull mingo snapper. There have also been several reports of swords being caught at night towards the south east.
Spring is here and the bite is hot everywhere you go right now so no excuses, get on out there!
Until next week tight lines!
This Fishing Report was submitted on 4/5/2013 7:35:43 AM by Seamus and last updated on 4/6/2013 7:35:43 AM.
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