Weekly Fishing Report 07/24/2013

NAVARRE
If you haven’t been on the water lately you are in for a shock when you finally get there. With all the rain we have had in our area the water quality is pretty bad right now. It is ranging from ice tea to a dark root beer and it extends well into the gulf. On the up side everyone has been reporting great catches both inshore and off.  

Inshore redfish, trout, flounder, black snapper, bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish and sharks are pretty much on the flats from Santa Rosa Sound to East Bay. The flats around the tiger point area has been especially productive first thing in the morning for angler using top water plugs such as Zera Spooks and Skitter walks.  We are finally starting to get a few shrimp here in the store and even though they are on the small size the fish don’t seem to care. Especially when fish under a popping cork or pitched around dock or bridge pilings the black snapper, flounder and redfish are gobbling them up. Live pinfish, croakers, finger mullet and pilchards will also work if you can find them. Chumming the drop offs with pilchards or menhaden has been extremely productive to big trout lately, but you will also have to contend with bluefish, ladyfish, and sharks when chumming. The bite at night for trout and redfish is still going strong. Almost any small soft plastic or crank bait will work as well as pilchards or finger mullet will work. For the larger trout though you need to work you baits on the edge or just out side the glow of the light. Fly fishermen are probably having the most fun fishing size 4 or 2 solid white or black clouser minnows though as they more closely match the forage the trout and reds are feeding on. 

On the pier the king and Spanish bite remains steady even with the degraded water quality. There are plenty of hadtails, pilchards and threadfins so bait is not had to come by. The shark bite is still going strong along with the occasional redfish and pompano. The only reliable catches right now seem to be ladyfish, hardtails and blue fish. The bite pompano bite in the surf continues to improve due to the lack of June grass. I’ve also received a few reports of good numbers of whiting being caught although most are on the small size even for whiting.

The weather has been making it tough for everyone heading offshore, but once out the pass the fishing has been pretty good. Grouper have been the main target for most bottom fishermen since red snapper closed in both state and federal waters. Large live baits such as hardtails, pinfish, red porgies have been the top baits. Although those deep dropping are having pretty good luck on squid and cut bait. Amberjacks and triggerfish are still off the menu until August 1, 2013 and red snapper caught in federal waters and state waters will have to be released. The cobia bite remains strong with fish up to 70 pounds being caught this week by anglers targeting bottom species. The king bite is still going strong near shore and off. Slow trolling live baits or Yo-Zuri and Mann’s Stretch deep diving plugs around structure or free lining live baits in the current when anchored up on near shore reefs are the top producing presentations. I’ve also received a few reports of yellow fin and black fin tuna as close in as the nipple. This same area is also producing decent mahi up to 20 pounds and wahoo up to 50 pounds.

Until next week tight lines and get out there!

PANAMA CITY BEACH OFFSHORE  
Grouper digging has been good, most anglers report a healthy bite on both Gag and Red grouper as well as the occasional Scamp. It seems the best reports have come from Federal waters and on larger baits like Boston mackerel and Spanish mackerel. Techniques like butterfly-ing larger dead baits and using long leaders on live baits have produced the largest fish. You have to get out there to find blue water, the color change does not really start until you get say twenty or more miles out. Wahoo, Dolphin and larger Kings are out there and they are responding to free lined baits and trolled plugs. Be sure to set your drag as light as it can be set and still not give up line. This will help to insure the hook does not get pulled and don’t be too quick to tighten up the drag, let a couple of good runs happen first. You want to tire them out before getting them boat side, a lot of fish are lost because they are too “green” or brought in too quickly.

SURF AND PIER
Fishing from the beach has improved a little this week, early morning and late in the day have been best. The water close to shore has had a lot of fresh in it, you can tell by the brownish color. You will have to get your offering out there a pretty good ways in order to be in the zone so long heavy rods and reels with a lot of line are a must. Tarpon, a few Pompano, Whiting and a fair amount of Spanish mackerel are out there you just have to be able to get where they are. And of course the small sharks, Bluefish and Ladyfish are there too.

Very few Kings this week, the bait situation has improved some and I would expect the King bite to improve as well. Cigar minnows, hard tails, L Y’s and Pinfish are to be had so bring along the appropriate rigging to take advantage. You can add to the above list; Redfish, Flounder, Jack crevalle and the occasional Sheep head.

ST ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
I can’t say much has changed from last week, but I do think the bay is beginning to regain a saltwater influence at least in the places nearer to the pass. Anyway you can still count on finding fish but you will have to work it with more color and scent in order for them to find you. Flounder, Speckled trout, Redfish and some Sheep head were found prospecting the backwaters of our bay system. Do use the tide tables and fish and game forecaster to your advantage when you can. I know you have been out there and all of a sudden it was like someone turned a light switch on, and the fish started biting. That is what I am talking about, there is something to the science.