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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
NAVARREIt’s hard to believe, but between the rain showers the fishing is pretty good right now. The water clarity right now is pretty bad with the color ranging from ice tea near shore to dark root beer beyond four feet. This root beer coloration even extends out into the gulf around area passes. Even with the discoloration everyone is been reporting great catches both inshore and off.
Not much has changed since last week inshore. I’m still getting reports of 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 continue to be especially productive first thing in the morning for angler using top water plugs such as Zera Spooks, Top Dogs, and Skitter walks. As a reminder we are starting to get a steady supply of shrimp. They are on the small size, but the trout and redfish don’t seem to care. Fished under a popping cork or pitched around dock and 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 continues to be extremely productive for big trout lately, but you will also have to contend with bluefish, ladyfish, and sharks because the will readily respond when chumming.
Pier and surf fishermen have seen very little change since last week. 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. Even with the terrible water quality we did have a really nice sailfish around 50 pounds landed last Sunday. The pompano bite in the surf is pretty good with several fish up to 5 pounds caught this week. Lastly, as with last week we are still getting reports of good numbers of whiting being caught although most are on the small size even for whiting.
Kings have been the main target this week by most anglers heading off shore. Most are being targeted around FAD’s (Fish Attractant Device) and near shore wrecks that are holding plenty of live bait. Trolling live baits on planers or downriggers has been the most productive presentation, although trolling deep diving plugs such as Mann’s Stretch 25’s and 30’s, YoZuri, and Bomber are also doing the trick. The 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, and red porgies have been the top baits. 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.
Until next week tight lines and get out there!
PANAMA CITY BEACH OFFSHOREGrouper 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 PIERFishing 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 SYSTEMI 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.
DESTINGrouper action has been very good with lots of gags and red grouper coming in with a few scamp. Most of the good action has been on the edge, the funnels and mingo ridge. Live cigar minnows, herring and threadfin are working the best.
Trolling for kings with Yozuri crystal minnows or live cigar minnows is good in the southeast rocks, broken bottom, preacher’s rock and the timber holes.
The tarpon are moving along the beach just off the sand bar and can be caught drifting live bait off you boat or off the pier.
In the bay good numbers of reds around the bridges and mouths of the bayous, also in the bay there are a good number of small sharks in the channel just north of crab island. Spanish are reported trolling spoons around the Coast guard station and the channels around crab island and the jetties.
Offshore there has been a good wahoo bite, some reports of dolphin and a few real nice swordfish near the spur at night.
This Fishing Report was submitted on 7/25/2013 9:56:01 PM by Seamus and last updated on 7/27/2013 9:56:01 PM.
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