Half Hitch Fish Report September 14th 2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
The trout and reds will still be in their summer routine of invading the flats first thing in the morning and late afternoon. Top water lures will work well during these times. During the heat of the day, the trout and redfish will move off the flats to the channels, so your next rig might be a Carolina rig with a live shrimp or an LY. For Flounder, try the edges of the grass flats in the sand and also at the entrances to the canals and bayou’s to include the area under the George Tapper bridge. Fishing live bull minnows Carolina rigged is best. September will more than likely be your last chance at the Tarpon for this year along the forgotten coast. Live pogies caught along the shore outside Indian Pass are your best bait as always for these giants. Pompano will start their fall run towards mid September, maybe a little late this year due to the warmer water temperatures this year. Some whiting and black drum will be available for the surf angler this month. Rigged up with a fresh shrimp on a double pompano rig and you will be set for most species normally caught in the surf. The redfish will start to congregate outside the passes for their annual spawning run and can be caught fishing live pinfish on heavier tackle as the some of the reds will be pushing 40 pounds.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Look for grouper in 120’ of water and use live bait or jigs. The hard bottoms to the south of Cape San Blas are a popular area to visit and bring aboard some nice fish. Triggerfish are here year round and can be caught using a double drop rig with squid on small hooks approximately a #4 hook depending on brand will work perfectly. We continue to get reports of king mackerel caught over many local wrecks and reefs and quite a few larger Spanish mackerel are being caught along with them. Further out in blue water the Wahoo bite seems to be very good especially early in the morning and we have had several reports of tuna catches in these same areas.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
A few Sailfish have been caught this past week free-lining live Cigar Minnows and Herring around the Whistle and Weather buoys! Grouper are still being caught well offshore from 20 plus miles out. Use large live baits. Wahoo are being caught from 20-40 miles out. Hi speed trollers, like the Yo Zuri Bonita, are a sure bet. King Mackerel seem to be everywhere. They are being caught steadily from the beach out to 40 miles. Lots of AJ’s are still being caught around the 100 foot mark over bridge spans and large wrecks. Big hard tails are the best bet for keeper AJ’s.
ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Mangrove Snappers are very plentiful under the bridges and at the jetties. Use live shrimp. King Mackerel are being caught regularly off the new city pier along with Spanish, Bluefish, Lady Fish, Redfish and a few Flounder. Ladyfish, Bluefish, and Spanish mackerel are biting good at the jetties on spoons and Gotcha Plugs. Redfish have been found on the flats in East and West Bays; while Bull Reds are still being caught with live shrimp and pinfish around the jetties. Trout are being caught on the flats with topwater lures early and live shrimp under a cork later.
NAVARRE
SURF
The Spanish Mackerel and Skipjack are all through the surf. Any bright shiny lure that is travelling very quickly will take their share. As the water starts to cool a little this month, the Pompano bite should be getting better each day. Live or frozen sand fleas will be the ticket. On calmer days Kayak fisherman can reach the King Mackerel just at the drop off in 20’ of water. Try live lining or slow trolling live cigar minnows. You can catch a lot of bait by simply jigging some sabiki rigs.
SOUND AND BAYS
Nothing has changed much here. Anglers can expect to see great Trout fishing around the grass flats from Tiger Point to the grass flats just east of the bridge. Redfish and Flounder are also in the same waters with most of the fish caught on live shrimp under a popping cork. Also try using a 1/4oz jig tipped with a GULP! shrimp or jerk shad under the same popping cork. There have also been plenty of Trout and Redfish landed in East Bay from the Garcon Point bridge up to the power lines crossing the entrance to the East River. These fish are still in a summertime pattern, early morning and late afternoon forays will be the best times to fish. Don’t overlook the summertime night fishing around the lighted docks. There are some nice fish right in the light, but don’t overlook the darker edges of the light either. Live shrimp is a great bait to use, try a smaller hook size so the shrimp swims naturally. The Berkley GULP! baits do well fished with a split shot or under a small popping cork to.
NEAR SHORE – GULF
King Mackerel are still the hot bite near shore and continue to bite strong in and around the passes and inshore reefs in 40 to 80 feet of water. Trolling or fly lining live cigar minnows when anchored up has been the top producer. Dolphin continue to show up in increasing numbers especially around anglers fishing for bottom species. Just remember to have a rod ready and rigged with a pitch bait when they do show up. The near shore reefs and wrecks are also producing good numbers of Amberjack, Grouper, Red Snapper, Black Snapper, Lane Snapper and Triggerfish. The Grouper are being caught on large pinfish, threadfins or hardtails with their tail clipped to make it easier for the grouper to catch them. The Snappers will nail a live cigar minnow fished on the very bottom.
OFFSHORE – GULF
Amberjack are almost on every wreck from 80’ on out with the largest fish being caught in deeper water of 100’ or more. Look for Grouper to remain on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Fish in the 10# to 15# range will hit pinfish, threadfins and hardtails. You will have to remove the tails from the Hardtails; otherwise they are next to impossible to get to the bottom on a light weight. Dolphin and Triple Tail can still be found on just about any floating structure. A jig tipped squid or shrimp will take the Triple Tail. A cut or live Cigar minnow or live Pinfish will get you your Dolphin. King mackerel are being caught daily around the mouth of the passes and buoy lines on cigar minnows slow trolled or free lined. If you can get out the blue water bite is still smoking hot. Yellow Fin, Black Fin and Wahoo are being caught around most of the deep water oil rigs. Poppers, jigs and slow trolled ballyhoo continue to be the go to bait. The bigger fish are coming off the bridled Bonito or large Blue Runners bump trolled around the rigs. . Some reports have the cleaner water holding on the edge, but blue water remains around 100 miles out. There have been some good reports of Blue Marlin and White Marlin caught around the Nipple and the Spur.
