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NAVARREThe water quality is starting to improve some, but it still has a ways to go. The tides for this weekend are looking especially good for those fishing inshore and should fire up the bite in the back bays and sound.
The hottest bite this week has been black snapper. They are almost everywhere right now, and are easily found around docks, bridges, and even the pylons at the pier. Small shrimp and small hooks has been the key to landing these expert bait thieves. The trout and redfish bite is still going strong in the sound and East Bay. The flounder bite remains steady, but most of those being caught are undersize. I’ve also received a few reports of black drum being caught around the deeper docks in the sound and around the Navarre Bridge. The flats around the Tiger Point area in the sound continues to be especially productive first thing in the morning for angler using top water plugs such as Zera Spooks, Top Dogs, and Skitter walks. Live shrimp, pinfish, croakers, finger mullet and pilchards are top baits right now when targeting trout and reds on the flats.
Black snapper are tearing up small live shrimp when fished around the pylons on the pier. The king and spanish bite is still slow. The kings are hitting live and frozen cigar minnows. The Spanish are being caught on sabiki rigs, with most of them being under the legal size limit. There is plenty of hadtails, pilchards and threadfins so bait is not hard to come by. Bull reds are cruising the surf line and will readily eat a live pinfish fished right on the bottom. The shark bite is still going strong along with the occasional redfish and pompano in the surf. However the most reliable catches right now seem to be ladyfish, hardtails and blue fish.
Kings are still the main target this week by most anglers trolling around the pass and near nearshore wrecks. Slow 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, YoZuri deep diving 3D minnows, and X’Rap deep diving plugs are a good alternative. Grouper have been the main target for most bottom fishermen, but I’m sure that will change this weekend as amberjacks and triggerfish open up in both stat and federal waters this weekend. Large live baits such as hardtails, pinfish, and red porgies have been the top baits for the grouper and amberjacks. For the triggerfish small pieces of cut squid fished on heave duty circle hooks are the key to putting them in the cooler.
Until next week tight lines and get out there!
PANAMA CITY BEACH OFFSHOREIf you are after Grouper you should be golden, just walk the docks in the afternoon and you’ll see plenty of them along with loads of Bee liners, White snapper and even a few Lane snapper. We are seeing some real nice catches from both out deep and in fairly close. It would seem you don’t have to go too far to find them and they are not finicky, live, frozen and even jigs are working. Wahoo, Dolphin and Kings are getting caught locally although most are being found out in deeper water, some are getting picked up within State waters. Somewhat surprising being as the water in close is stained a brown color from all of the recent rains. Cigar minnows and Herring are around but not real thick, I would take along some bait and not count on finding it offshore.
SURF AND PIERFishing from the beach has not been real good and is likely going to get worse. The June grass is starting to show up and makes fishing from the beach nearly impossible. If you can find a spot where it is not loaded up with the nasty stuff give it a try but have a plan B.
Pier fishing for Kings has been pretty good if you get there early. There has been almost no bait to be had lately, that is unless you want hard tails or rain minnows. So if you want to use cigar minnows bring them with you. Also at the piers they are catching a lot of Spanish mackerel and big Redfish. Clarkspoons and bubble rigs for the Spanish and top-water plugs for the reds. Again, what fish are getting caught have been either at dawn or late in the day, middle of the day has been really slow.
ST ANDREWS BAY SYSTEMBay fishing has been pretty good despite the brown stained water. Golden colored Redfish and Speckled trout are working the grass beds on the falling tide. Live bait suspended under a popping cork, gold spoons, Mirro-dines or even better something scented to help them find you in the dark water. You will also find some Ladyfish in the mix so you may want to go a little heavy on the leader. Some healthy Mangrove snapper can be found around the local bridge pilings and docks. Live shrimp works best but you can sometimes catch them on a fresh cut chunk of pinfish. You may also find some Sheep head in these same locations. Can’t say we have heard much about Flounder lately, maybe they have moved into deeper water to find saltier water.
This Fishing Report was submitted on 8/1/2013 11:50:53 AM by Seamus and last updated on 8/2/2013 11:50:53 AM.
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