Panama City Florida, Inshore Fishing is Pretty Hard to Beat Righ
Capt. Rob Womble
March 24, 2009
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
The wind has been up the last couple of days but no worries, the red and trout bite up on the flats is still in full swing. Getting around this windy weather has been a little tricky but not impossible. There are a number of boat ramps around the East, West and North Bays. Check the weather reports for an up to date wind direction and speed, and then decide on which boat ramp will put you closer to the side of the bay that will provide you with the best windbreak. However there is something you should think about before you decide to ignore the windy side of the bay. The smaller baitfish is affected by the wind. Moderate to strong winds will often push baitfish onto the windward shore line. Capt. Todd and I will normally stake-out on the windward side and cast to the grass line with a weightless DOA or a Gulp Sinking Minnow. Work it slow enough to entice a strike but fast enough to keep it off the bottom. Good rule of thumb is below the surface and off the bottom. Sounds easy but when your in 7 inches of water, you have to pay attention to that lure.
We are catching really nice trout with more regularity now. The water temp finally hit that magic mark and the top-water plugs have started producing some really nice trout.
Dean with a couple of big Trout
The redfish bite is incredible right now. I have found that the gold spoon is still the lure of choice but Capt. Todd's clients have been taking some really nice reds with Gulp Shrimp and Sinking Minnow's. Capt. Todd likes the sinking Minnow because it can be used as either swim type bait or a top water bait. It's really simple. Slow the retrieve for the swim type action and to make it a top water bait, all you have to do is lift the rod tip and increase the retrieve with a little twitch in your step.
Matt from Texas with a great PC Red!
Rob dragged this monster out of 6 inches of water!
Cell Phone Camera isn't very good, but the redfish was:)
Where to Fish?
The pass is on fire right now. A lot of fishermen are heading to the jetties for the Sheephead run. Not too hard if the wind is on your side. Find the submerged rocks, figure your direction of drift, and anchor your boat so it lies just ahead of the submerged rocks. Use a rod and reel rigged with 8 to 15lb line and a little heavier leader, about 10 to 15inch. Use an egg weight (size depends on depth and current) to get the live shrimp (from Half Hitch or Howell Tackle) to the bottom. After that hang on.
The flats east of the pass between Tyndall and Shell Island are very good right now. If the wind will let you get there the sight fishing is extraordinary. Further up East Bay the bayous and surrounding flats are still producing nice trout and reds. West Bay has been hit or miss and North Bay is like bumper boats but the fishing has been steady there.
More boats out there every day. Be careful and watch out for the other guy.
Capt. Rob Womble & Capt. Todd Jones
Back Bay Adventures
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