Report for 07/24/2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Bottom fishing continues to be good however challenging, as you may have to try several locations before finding fish. When you find them, they are hitting everything you drop down to them. Live baits are getting easier to catch, but dropping down frozen baits like cigar minnows will work almost as well, or try the new Lucanus bottom jigs from Shimano. The king mackerel bite is still strong with many fish seen skyrocketing after baits. All you have to do is troll dusters or cigar minnows and the fish will come to you. Start your trolling on the buoy line and work your way out to deeper water until you find the bite. Trolling offshore is picking up with some nice dolphin picked up 50 miles out trolling ballyhoo with a skirt.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Scallop reports are good with many people getting their limit in only a few hours. Try the grass flats around Eagle Harbor and Blacks Island. The trout report is good with the majority of fish caught at first light and late afternoon. The redfish are still with us and like the trout, target them the first few hours after sun up. If artificial baits are your favorite use a soft plastic jerk bait or shrimp imitation. The Spanish mackerel and many bluefish caught this week, they can be caught on live bait rigs or using a double speck rig or a gotcha plug for casting.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
The Red Snapper bite has remained constant over the wrecks and hard bottom areas. Larger snapper are being found further out. Wahoo are being caught from 20-40 miles out. Hi speed trollers, like the Yo Zuri Bonita, are a sure bet. King Mackeral are being caught in great numbers. They are being caught steadily around the Whistle and Weather bouys trolling and free-lining cigar minnows. The Grouper bite has slowed inshore,but good reports are coming from 30 miles out. Use large live baits. 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
Tarpon are on the beaches in better numbers now. Be stealthy, throw live baits, and keep your fingers crossed for a hook up! Ladyfish, Bluefish, and Spanish Mackeral are biting good at the jetties on spoons and Gotcha Plugs. Mangrove Snappers are still being caught off the rocks with live shrimp. 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. Tristan Dawson, 13 years old, of Dunlap, TN caught this 36″ Cobia while fishing in Panama City Beach.
Fresh Water
The bass have moved in over grass beds. Fish wild shiners along the grass lines, or if you want to use an artificial, your best bet will be shallow running jerk baits and topwater along the shore.
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