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Fly fishing around the bay
Capt. James Pic
July 22, 2009
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
Today was a good day, the start of many, to fly fish in the bay around Panama City. As you can see in some of my recent fishing reports we have managed to catch several nice reds and other fish on the fly as of late.
Today I took James Driggs from Austin Texas out on the bay for a day of fly fishing. The bite was a little slow but a lot of fish were hooked and landed. We saw a couple of nice pods of reds but didn't have an opportunity to catch any.
Each year toward the middle or end of summer the fish begin to pile into the bay marking the beginning of the fall run. Some years the fall run of many of our migratory species can be better than the spring. Although the fall is still a month away, I could see a lot of fish piling into the bay this morning with the tide. There is bait all over the bay; big schools. There are spanish, bluefish and ladyfish following the bait into the bay. Along with those fish will be some kings, cobia, grouper and other prized species.
As the summer starts to cool and the days get shorter this will trigger the bite and the fishing will get really good.
As a fly fisherman I look forward to this every year. Hitting some of the spots the migratory species get active early in the morning, taking a fly to the pass and just offshore "running and gunning" for big schools of bonita, spanish and the occasional mahi mahi. An 8wt and 10wt, floating and sinking lines along with some white clouser minnows can make for an exciting day of fly fishing in Panama City.
The fall redfish bite on the fly will also get hot.
We get a bad rap around here as a fly fishing destination but I can assure you there are plenty of fish and species that will readily take a fly.
I can supply all of your fly fishing equipment if you have none or can't bring it with you for whatever reason. I can teach you what you need to know if your a beginner or if you have been doing it for a while and want to learn more. I am also putting together a trip to Belize later this year for anyone that wants to travel with some avid fishermen, both fly fishers and conventional. It will be a great few days of bonefish, snook, tarpon and permit. Email me for the details.
Here's a couple of shots from today:
Panama City Fishing Forecast:
Even though there will be some slow days fishing is really good and will continue to be that way for the rest of the summer. With each passing day the trout and redfish bite should pick up. Trout will peek in mid September, reds throughout the fall.
Spanish bite will continue all the way thru November with some really big fish showing up.
Target Species:
Everything is here with new fish arriving daily.
More Fishing Reports:
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